Well, I don't see Obama as poetic, so much as I see him as sensible, but with very positive overtones. Like when he says things like government can't solve all your problems, that it's the parent's job to turn off the TV and the radio and to teach them positive values, I see that as a very pragmatic thing to say. Then he goes a step further as to set the example with his own children.
I also look closely at the chosen slogans of the campaign. Yes "we" can, as opposed to the usual trumpets that boast what the candidate can do. His entire platform has been to involve his supporters. And it's real hard to garner a lot of support if you can't inspire. Two things he's done successfully.
The other thing I look at is his organization skills. Now this I personally admire because I'm a wannabe organizer. I love organization, but I often fall short of keeping it up. Obama's campaign has been insanely well organized and drama-free. That's notable, because keeping a large organization of people on message is a difficult thing.
I don't think there will be any disasters as a direct result of his actions. Certainly, we've already learned what a disastrous presidency looks like, and this just isn't a president with the same skill set or focus. If anything, this will be an extremely well organized presidency and any "disasters" will be from outside forces. What will matter is how me meets the coming problems. From everything I've seen it will no doubt be even handed, firm, but with an open ear to his advisers. In all the elections I've observed, I've never seen a candidate show any kind of behavior that he didn't continue show once elected into Office. I've not seen anything, and I watch these campaigns closer then most, that would suggest that Obama would just blunder through his first term like a kid on his first bicycle. He'll make mistakes, I'm sure. They all do, because they're all just imperfect humans like the rest of us. But on the important issues, while not everyone will agree with his choices, I don't think we're going to see anything like the last 8 years, which has been one disastrous blunder after another.
11-18-2008, 06:41 AM
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