http://www.1001words.com/2008/01/martial-arts-and-politics.html We live in an age of forgetting. Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:03:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.1001words.com/2008/01/martial-arts-and-politics.html#comment-338 Mike S Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:31:00 +0000 http://www.1001words.com/2008/01/martial-arts-and-politics.htm#comment-338 I agree completely. He is very convincing. He says every other viable candidate- Republican or Democrat- is from the old establishment and is unable to rally such a diverse group of voters. He argues that other candidates can't be believed when they speak disapprovingly of political ties with lobbyists. I think that's true: other candidates, once elected president, will be immediately burdened with enemies they've accumulated in the opposing party and within their own party. So, would Obama be ushering in entirely new strategies for domestic and foreign policy? In his South Carolina speech he repeats "It's not going to be easy" and mentions there will be setbacks. I can't even imagine how difficult it's going to be. He has proven to be successful with rallying "the people", who I think polls show are mostly moderate. But as president he'll have to rally the congress, which is much more partisan and deeply entrenched in "the old ways". Granted, if the Bush administration had a 75% approval rating instead of a 30% approval rating in the national polls, it would be more difficult to pull moderate conservatives away from the Republican party. <br/> I think the best thing he has going for him is his image as an Honest Abe. Someone who appears determined to unite the country, and has demonstrated an ability to do so in his own fractured Democratic Party. Someone who is determined to have a transparent administration, and has demonstrated this concept in his presidential campaign. Someone who takes a stance on controversial issues, but gives credit to the opposition when he feels it's due. And now for something completely different...<br/>asdfjkl; I agree completely. He is very convincing. He says every other viable candidate- Republican or Democrat- is from the old establishment and is unable to rally such a diverse group of voters. He argues that other candidates can’t be believed when they speak disapprovingly of political ties with lobbyists. I think that’s true: other candidates, once elected president, will be immediately burdened with enemies they’ve accumulated in the opposing party and within their own party. So, would Obama be ushering in entirely new strategies for domestic and foreign policy? In his South Carolina speech he repeats “It’s not going to be easy” and mentions there will be setbacks. I can’t even imagine how difficult it’s going to be. He has proven to be successful with rallying “the people”, who I think polls show are mostly moderate. But as president he’ll have to rally the congress, which is much more partisan and deeply entrenched in “the old ways”. Granted, if the Bush administration had a 75% approval rating instead of a 30% approval rating in the national polls, it would be more difficult to pull moderate conservatives away from the Republican party.
I think the best thing he has going for him is his image as an Honest Abe. Someone who appears determined to unite the country, and has demonstrated an ability to do so in his own fractured Democratic Party. Someone who is determined to have a transparent administration, and has demonstrated this concept in his presidential campaign. Someone who takes a stance on controversial issues, but gives credit to the opposition when he feels it’s due. And now for something completely different…
asdfjkl;

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