I love politics. I love the good and bad of politics. I love the good that can be done by the few honest and thoughtful servants of the people; I even love the power-abusing chicanery and disreputable behavior of most politicians. There is beauty, anger, sadness, disgust, excitement and humor in the whole panorama of politics. I love it!
I’ve been following politics from the time I was a kid in Washington, D.C. in the 30’s. As a matter of fact, I could name all of the cabinet members when I was 7 or 8. I guess because of the excitement generated by the then new administration – the so-called New Deal (“happy days are here again”) – and the hope we had that our “other father”, FDR, would find a way out of the economic desperation that the nation was mired in (along with his fireside chats – when he greeted us with “my friends” in his speeches, you really thought he was your friend), filled me with an everlasting interest in politics. Add to those years and events my years in Jersey City from where “I am the boss” Frank Hague, one of the country’s historic political bosses, ruled the state of New Jersey, and you can further appreciate my political passion.
Through all of the post war years significant history evolved with the tough old Truman, the hero/general Ike, the glamorous but tragic Kennedy, the enigmatic and disgraced Nixon, the well meaning but ill-timed Carter, the avuncular Reagan, the brilliant but careless Clinton, and now the bottom of the presidential list, Bush. All led the country in dynamic times, and all influenced our futures.
And now we are about to have another national election that I believe will set the path for the nation for the next decade if not longer. Why either of these 2 guys wants this office is beyond me. With the depressing deficit of our treasury, the desperate business and job prospects over the next year or so, the housing market in free fall, credit liquidity frozen solid like some northern lake, the nation mired in the Iraq/Afghanistan mess and hated or distrusted by most of the world, with groups out there that want to literally destroy us, our infrastructure in desperate need of repair, legislatures-federal, state and local- that deservedly are mistrusted by a vast majority of the public, and you name it, their striving so strongly to be the “chosen one” is an enigma for me.
All of that said, however, I do not believe the financial fiasco the nation faces now can be attributed to Bush only. Clinton, Rubin, Biden and Bush and the Republicans, all led by Greenspan in the belief that less controls meant greater prosperity for all, share responsibility.
While it appears that Mr. Obama is in the lead, and will win the election, I’ll have to see it to believe it.
If indeed he is the man, I hope he will not follow the Clinton course, and charge left of center. While I believe significant change is necessary, most of the country remains and prefers what David Brooks terms progressive conservatism, or a moderate approach. While I personally believe that energetic government can and should give people the tools to pursue their ambitions, to enhance social opportunity, to create a vibrant national
economy so more people can rise and succeed and to encourage real equality, a significant number of Americans do not agree. Obama must not ignore this view; he must not go forth on some left of center crusade. Also, while we must not be once more overly influenced by the religious right, an awareness of immorality and respect of the importance of traditional virtues and stable institutions must not be ignored. I believe these remain vital issues for most Americans, religious or not.
The Democratic Party must be united (am I dreaming?) and ready to adapt to new challenges. It cannot be addicted to the old progressive policies and solutions of the New Deal. Some worked; most did not. It must aim to enhance the country’s greatness and serve the unique cause America represents in the world. Obama must be a lion against the country’s foes and be respectful and cooperative with our friends. He must again set the nation on a path of “exceptionalism”. For while responsibly maintaining our military readiness, we must be committed to regaining and maintaining our positions of intellectual, technological, economic and moral/ethical superiority. Lastly, and I believe it is the initial key to the success of his administration, he must, again responsibly, expeditiously get us the heck out of that Iraq/Afghanistan abyss. You may not agree, but I believe the survival of the world depends on it.
Take care. Vote!!!!!!!!
AHS 10/29/08
