Re: I’ve been framed!

rexm — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 18:18:40 -0000

For any candidate, It's pretty easy to make two columns, positive and negative, of roughly equal length. It just depends on who is contributing to the lists. The problem is many of those in one column are just as subjective as those in the other - for example I disagree with 3 of the points you offer as incontrovertible evidence of discrepancy between Obama's career and his image.

That's not to say that the image is not manufactured, because all political images are, just like McCain's Maverick and Bush's Compassionate Conservative. But its also disingenuous to say that they are totally without merit. They are not created in a vacuum- they are borne out of at least semi-truths and the intentions of the supporters on which their momentum is built.

Re: I’ve been framed!

rexm — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:40:57 -0000

I think it is common to underestimate the legitimate value of "hope"/"change" because most Mr Obama supporters have trouble articulating what "hope" and "change" actually mean, but that doesn't mean they are devoid of meaning. I think people are attracted to them on a conceptual level as representing an attitude. A particular attitude with which one approaches the issues of the nation and the world. This election is only about issues insomuch as they reflect the attitude with which the candidates approach an issue and propose it be solved. It's also difficult to objectively enumerate the differences in said attitudes, since I obviously think Mr McCain's attitudes are far from correct.

I think that goes a long way in explaining why the experience argument has been almost totally ineffective for Mr McCain. I do generally hold a very negative opinion of most of my fellow Americans, especially regarding their ability and/or willingness to engage in any intellectual activity, but I do not think that most are stupid and excitable enough to be thrown into a frenzy by mere words "hope" and "change" without there being some attractive concept behind them. Whether Mr Obama will be a particularly competent administrator (it seems to be generally agreed that both Mr McCain and Mr Obama would be decent at it) is not of much consequence.

And in the hope that I can add a little credibility to my argument, I have been an ardent conservative supporter my entire life, and less than a year ago was highly suspicious of Obama and planned on voting for McCain when it appeared even remotely likely that he would be the eventual nominee. It was a non-issue for me. It has been in the last several months, after much research and contemplation, that I have come to find myself planted firmly on the other side, very much because of the attitude thing.

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Re: I’ve been framed!

Re: I’ve been framed!