So, he announces that he's forming a presidential exploratory committee, or taking the virtual first step on a long and arduous journey to the White House. A journey which, many before him have taken, and none of whom have returned unscathed. Hey, he's been living and working in Washington for about two years, you'd think that by now, he'd realize that the road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue isn't paved with rose petals. No sir, this is the "mother of all political battles", the race to be "the most powerful man in the world" (a political distinction, of course), the quest to be the "leader of the free world".
The sound bytes of his announcement have yet subsided and already Barack Obama has been at the receiving end of various political flak, most of which are primarily intended to give him hard time and let him know that despite his "rock star" status and charming demeanor, the presidency of the United States isn't going to be handed to him on a silver platter. This early in the season Sen. Obama of Illinois has already had to deal with certain "issues" or should I say stereotypes which, while trivial at best, can be unscrupulously capitalized by his adversaries, or anyone, whether Democrats or Republicans, who's not too comfortable having an African-American (with a name rhyming with "Osama") occupy the Oval Office.
The 45 year old Obama is pictured by the skeptics as the greenhorn among the handful of politicians who have expressed their willingness to take a shot at the presidency. The image that's being painted isn't that of a "show-boating" Kobe Bryant dazzling the Los Angeles Community with his reverse jams during his rookie season. Neither is it reminiscent of the young Annakin Skywalker eager to prove to the snobby Jedi council that he's worthy to be one of them. They're talking more on the lines of a "doe-eyed" little boy falling, stumbling and tumbling over just about everything, as he moves about on his quest of discovering the world as we know it. Hence, the monicker...Obambi. Their assessment of the distinguished gentleman from Illinois...he's not ready. He's lacks the experience. And because of this, they would argue that he isn't quite one of those constituting what Alexander Hamilton refers to as "characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue".
Recently, some of the more "resourceful" anti-Barack hit-men have decided to turn-up the heat on the junior senator by suggesting that he spent a good part of his early life studying in an Indonesian Madrassa, which allegedly espoused Wahhabism, a form of radical Islam. We all know were this is headed. Its every spin-doctors' dream. I can hear the sound bytes already: "Do you really want a disciple of radical Islam (with, not to mention, a last name that rhymes with America's Most Wanted Terrorist) to sit in the Oval Office?" Or something like" "Keep the bombers (O-bomb-a) out of Washington!"
Then, of course, there's a toned down and more civilized suggestion that our hero is really nothing more than a reflection of a recent White House occupant, whose wife ironically remains to be the front runner or the top nominee of the Democratic party. That's right, folks. He's still very much around. C'mon, his term bears a lot of significance to the the present political landscape and its gonna take a lot more than a cigar and a "kiss-and-tell" intern to flush ol' Bubba down the forgotten annals of contemporary American politics. That brand of politics practiced by President William Jefferson Clinton can be (to the utter dismay of the Republicans) revived given the growing clamor for change in how things are being handled in Washington. Interestingly, though, the torch bearer this time around would not be the good lady senator from New York, but that "new kid" from Illinois. Senator Obama, like President Clinton has a seeming knack and maybe the impressive ability to steer himself towards the center (and maybe a little bit to the right) on a number of issues, thereby showing that he's not going to be restrained or severely debilitated by the ideological dictates of his party. And like the former President, Senator Obama has, so far, demonstrated his ability to connect and communicate with all sorts of people. The problem is that this makes him a very attractive target for anyone who despised President Clinton and everything he stood for. Aside from dealing with the flak that he'll be getting from these "sour-graping" Republicans, Senator Obama would be seemingly hard-pressed to see eye-to-eye with those within his own party who don't take to kindly to "centrist" swimmers or those who stray too "far to the right". Oh, Bubba, now look what you did? You're making life difficult for O-bambi . If I didn't know any better, I'd say Hillary put you up to this.
But really, what is it about this guy? Why all the hype? Exactly what did he do (or not do) to get that elusive X-Factor that every voter seems to be looking for. Well like many, I'm taking a closer look at him. I'm in the middle of reading his second novel "The Audacity of Hope" and....let's just say, he comes across you as something different. There's an aura of pleasantness. He seems to put you at ease by not forcing his views and beliefs down your throat. He'll tell you what he thinks but gives due credence and respect to the other side. I'm not an American and from where I come from, a politician who conducts himself this way is a most welcome change. (I'm serious, you're be better off searching for Blackbeard's hidden treasure than finding a gentleman in the Philippine Senate.) In the end, you may not agree with what Barack Obama says, but you're not going to hate him for it. He also seems pretty sure about his position. He doesn't at all sound overly confident about what he says and, in turn, you're comforted by the thought that he put a lot of work in studying and researching each and every issue. As one of his dissidents noted: "I may not agree with what you said, but you seem to know what you're talking about."
Will Barack Obama be the wise choice for the Democrats? Is he going to be the new Kennedy that will take back Camelot? I can't say just yet. But despite what's been said about him, I think he's worth a second look. So, despite your hang-ups about O-bambi, O-bomb-a or O-bubba...lets not be too hasty to judge the guy.
Let's talk about him more in the future.
The sound bytes of his announcement have yet subsided and already Barack Obama has been at the receiving end of various political flak, most of which are primarily intended to give him hard time and let him know that despite his "rock star" status and charming demeanor, the presidency of the United States isn't going to be handed to him on a silver platter. This early in the season Sen. Obama of Illinois has already had to deal with certain "issues" or should I say stereotypes which, while trivial at best, can be unscrupulously capitalized by his adversaries, or anyone, whether Democrats or Republicans, who's not too comfortable having an African-American (with a name rhyming with "Osama") occupy the Oval Office.
The 45 year old Obama is pictured by the skeptics as the greenhorn among the handful of politicians who have expressed their willingness to take a shot at the presidency. The image that's being painted isn't that of a "show-boating" Kobe Bryant dazzling the Los Angeles Community with his reverse jams during his rookie season. Neither is it reminiscent of the young Annakin Skywalker eager to prove to the snobby Jedi council that he's worthy to be one of them. They're talking more on the lines of a "doe-eyed" little boy falling, stumbling and tumbling over just about everything, as he moves about on his quest of discovering the world as we know it. Hence, the monicker...Obambi. Their assessment of the distinguished gentleman from Illinois...he's not ready. He's lacks the experience. And because of this, they would argue that he isn't quite one of those constituting what Alexander Hamilton refers to as "characters pre-eminent for ability and virtue".
Recently, some of the more "resourceful" anti-Barack hit-men have decided to turn-up the heat on the junior senator by suggesting that he spent a good part of his early life studying in an Indonesian Madrassa, which allegedly espoused Wahhabism, a form of radical Islam. We all know were this is headed. Its every spin-doctors' dream. I can hear the sound bytes already: "Do you really want a disciple of radical Islam (with, not to mention, a last name that rhymes with America's Most Wanted Terrorist) to sit in the Oval Office?" Or something like" "Keep the bombers (O-bomb-a) out of Washington!"
Then, of course, there's a toned down and more civilized suggestion that our hero is really nothing more than a reflection of a recent White House occupant, whose wife ironically remains to be the front runner or the top nominee of the Democratic party. That's right, folks. He's still very much around. C'mon, his term bears a lot of significance to the the present political landscape and its gonna take a lot more than a cigar and a "kiss-and-tell" intern to flush ol' Bubba down the forgotten annals of contemporary American politics. That brand of politics practiced by President William Jefferson Clinton can be (to the utter dismay of the Republicans) revived given the growing clamor for change in how things are being handled in Washington. Interestingly, though, the torch bearer this time around would not be the good lady senator from New York, but that "new kid" from Illinois. Senator Obama, like President Clinton has a seeming knack and maybe the impressive ability to steer himself towards the center (and maybe a little bit to the right) on a number of issues, thereby showing that he's not going to be restrained or severely debilitated by the ideological dictates of his party. And like the former President, Senator Obama has, so far, demonstrated his ability to connect and communicate with all sorts of people. The problem is that this makes him a very attractive target for anyone who despised President Clinton and everything he stood for. Aside from dealing with the flak that he'll be getting from these "sour-graping" Republicans, Senator Obama would be seemingly hard-pressed to see eye-to-eye with those within his own party who don't take to kindly to "centrist" swimmers or those who stray too "far to the right". Oh, Bubba, now look what you did? You're making life difficult for O-bambi . If I didn't know any better, I'd say Hillary put you up to this.
But really, what is it about this guy? Why all the hype? Exactly what did he do (or not do) to get that elusive X-Factor that every voter seems to be looking for. Well like many, I'm taking a closer look at him. I'm in the middle of reading his second novel "The Audacity of Hope" and....let's just say, he comes across you as something different. There's an aura of pleasantness. He seems to put you at ease by not forcing his views and beliefs down your throat. He'll tell you what he thinks but gives due credence and respect to the other side. I'm not an American and from where I come from, a politician who conducts himself this way is a most welcome change. (I'm serious, you're be better off searching for Blackbeard's hidden treasure than finding a gentleman in the Philippine Senate.) In the end, you may not agree with what Barack Obama says, but you're not going to hate him for it. He also seems pretty sure about his position. He doesn't at all sound overly confident about what he says and, in turn, you're comforted by the thought that he put a lot of work in studying and researching each and every issue. As one of his dissidents noted: "I may not agree with what you said, but you seem to know what you're talking about."
Will Barack Obama be the wise choice for the Democrats? Is he going to be the new Kennedy that will take back Camelot? I can't say just yet. But despite what's been said about him, I think he's worth a second look. So, despite your hang-ups about O-bambi, O-bomb-a or O-bubba...lets not be too hasty to judge the guy.
Let's talk about him more in the future.
2 comments:
I warned you Mr. Kite loves talking international politics! We watch CNN daily. I didn't really care much about politics, until he started explaining it to me. His Dad's a former Congressman and is Former President Cory Aquino's cousin. So it's in the blood.
We have the complete season of West Wing. And right now he's following Barack Obama's moves. He reminds him of Matt Santos.
yah i think its too soon for obama to run for the presidential race for the democrats.my bet would go for clinton. but we'll see....
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