[lit-ideas] Re: of liver, evil, and John W's tag-line

  • From: "Julie Krueger" <juliereneb@xxxxxxxxx>
  • To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Thu, 6 Nov 2008 12:06:45 -0600

Irene --

I think one of the aspects of Obama which sets him apart to some degree from
other politicians, and puts him in the "leader" category is his ability to
bring people together as you noted, but I would add to that and say that I
think he is able to educate people in a non-patronizing way, that he is able
to motivate people.  That sounds like just, oh, empty words.  But what I'm
trying to get at is that if everyday citizens have some hope, some belief,
that things can change and that we (ordinary citizens) can do together (not
having a puppet dictator do them for us) actual, visible results (electing
Obama) can happen.

The line on Obama's webpage and all his rhetoric about this campaign not
being about him but about us, wasn't just hollow talk -- if it were, I
wouldn't be able to use those lovely words, "President Obama".  That is, the
fact that he as elected (and w/ no doubt, no close call, no recount, etc.)
wasn't a miracle .... it was evidence that his leadership (even before
taking office) is real -- not Quixotic talk.  And if he has the leadership
abilities to gather the numbers of people he did, to do what seemed in his
word, improbable, I see no reason he cannot lead those same numbers of
people in taking some constructive responsibility for their lives and their
country's direction -- they just need to be organized, and shown how, a
little.  Shown their options.  I think that's one part of his enormous
strength -- he can bring together, as you say, disparate groups of people,
inspire/motivate them to believe they really can do something about their
lives, and help find new outside-the-box directions.

Perhaps the most grounded aspect of his leadership style (I don't even know
that I like the word "governing" just now) is his substantial talent for
organization, that boring, nitty-gritty thing.

Organizing.

On Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 9:24 AM, Paul Stone <pastone@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>  Andy <mimi.erva@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > I appreciate your observation that I like the idea of Obama being
> > elected.  Yes, I also like the reality of Obama being elected.  I think,
> > like you, I'm having a problem believing it actually happened.
>
> Why? As soon as RP told me the fix was in, my mind rested.
>
> > I'm also extremely pessimistic about the future.  I just don't see what
> anybody can
> > do.
>
> Just the act of Obama campaigning (nevermind the win) has already made
> this the most moderate hurricane season ever. All that hot air stolen
> by the 5.3 billion spent on the past
> 3.99 years of stumping has robbed the oceans of all their vitality.
> They've got no more oomph. Don't worry Andy, 'Global Warming' is so
> over! One less thing for you to worry about. And I know you do worry.
>
> >When people become disillusioned that the economy is, as I believe it
> > is, irretrievably broken, they'll blame Obama.
>
> Are you already disillusioned? Have you beaten the unwashed to the punch?
>
> > It'll be just another of God's little jokes.
>
> Who is this "God" fellow you talk of? Oh, that guy Mike was praising
> on Wednesday morning? THAT God?
>
> > If anybody can do anything, I know Obama can,
>
> Did you seriously just write that hyperbole?
>
> > because this has to be a group  effort, as in the world, and he pulls
> people together like no other.
>
> And this one ^? You should write president-elect Obama with your c.v.
> You could write his 2012 campaign ads.
>
> > But I don't know that anybody can do anything.  On the other hand, he
> already did
> > the impossible.  He's a black man who got elected in racist America, so
> > maybe he can do another impossible, pull this economy out.
>
> See, you're already doing it? Are you a member of the [incredibly
> ignorant and sensational] newsmedia? Although, I think a huge part of
> America IS racist, it's okay, because all those people voted for
> McCain in States that, in the end, didn't matter. The truth is "WHITE
> AMERICA" voted Obama in with great gusto. So I'm buoyed by the fact
> that maybe a whole lot of people who I thought were racist idiots are
> really just idiots.
>
> > The real problem is in the ignorance of the American people.  If we had a
> > media that disseminated news and information, and people had something to
> > hang that information on, i.e.,
>
> Phew... for a second I thought you had joined the team. I'm relieved
> to see you are still on the horse.
>
> > understood what it means to borrow two
> > billion dollars a day just for basic functioning, or even to know it was
> > happening, and to understand what the tax cuts are about and who's
> reaping
> > what benefit and who loses, and how ridiculous and exploitive this war in
> > Iraq is, and on and on, nothing like this could ever have happened.
>
> What is the "THIS" to which you refer?
>
> > But that's the whole point, isn't it, that the people are kept willfully
> > ignorant so that in these last eight years the evil just ran wild as the
> > people were exhorted to go shopping.
>
> You might be able to "KEEP" people unwillingly ignorant, but if they
> are wilfully ignorant, isn't that their god-given choice? Or at least,
> the excuse they'd give you?
>
> >  > So yes, I like Obama being elected.  It's just that the horses are
> gone, the
> > barn is empty.  But, Obama's already done one impossible thing.
>
> Did you REALLY think it was 'impossible'?
>
> >Maybe he can do two.
>
> Or maybe more than two.
>
> >Let's hope.
>
> Is that like praying?
>
> head-buttingly yours,
>
> p
>
> p.s. I get physically ill if I come within 100 feet of liver and
> onions being cooked or eaten.
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-- 
Julie Krueger

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