Suburban Guerrilla

Amen

Mar 1st, 2008 at 12:56 pm by Susie

Too many Obama fans seem to believe the guy is made of candy-glass. He’s tough enough. However, there is one speech I want to hear him give. In his usual stumper, he occasionally comes around to a passage in which he says, in the context of the various depredations of the current government, that he understands the Constitution, taught the Constitution, and will respect the Constitution. This always gets a roar, but he needs to do more.

He needs to give a speech in which he explains this all to a willfully amnesiac country that has grown illiterate of its Constitution, ignorant of its founding principles, and taught by three decades of conservative government and idiot popular culture that its fundamental rights are at best inconveniences and, at worst, loopholes through which criminals escape justice and terrorists infiltrate the country.

They are not “their” rights. They are our rights, damn it. He has spoken gloriously about the promise of the country. He’s got to bring that arsenal to bear on why the country was worth that rhetoric in the first place, to tell the country that there are some things that America cannot do and remain the same country. He has to tell the country what those things are, why we can’t do them, and the inevitable consequences of doing them, not in the rest of the world, which presumes the paramount importance of projecting American power around the world, but here at home, in the existential threat of those measures to the idea of the country itself.

We oppose these things because of who we are. If we do not, we are complicit. He needs to tell the country that.

Posted in Blind Justice, Just a Goddamn Piece of Paper, Politics As Usual

5 Responses to “Amen”

on 01 Mar 2008 at 1:32 pm1Barry Walden

Where did you get the idea that Obama fans “think he is made of glass”? Obama has done an admirable job in responding very quickly and effectively to slams from the right. Much more effectively than has been done by liberals and progressives for a long time, I might add.
And what do you think Obama has been doing if not telling his audiences that we need to stop running roughshod over the constitution? Do you think he has not been specific in his criticisms of what has been going on in the current administration? Do you not think he has said we need to change the way we conduct our foreign policy? I wonder why, then, that the Shrub has seen fit to criticise his “I will talk” stance?
I agree that he needs to continue to spell out exactly what he intends to do differently than Cheney et al (because that’s who has been running things), but I really think he has been doing that.
on 01 Mar 2008 at 2:13 pm2memyself

Hmmm, good idea, a speech that talks about the constitution and where America has been going wrong and needs to change. Maybe one like this one:

http://www.cfr.org/publication/13974/obamas_speech_at_woodrow_wilson_center.html

Just because the lazy press didn’t cover it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. It took me all of 2 minutes to find this.

As to the “made of glass” comment. Frankly, that one made me spit coffee on my keyboard because it made me laugh out load.

There are many Obama supporters who cite his and his team’s rapid and effective response to political attacks as the MOST important reason to support him. These folks write copious comments about how difficult it will be for Republican to swiftboat him effectively because of this.

They don’t want a repeat of Kerry’s campaign and see clear signs that Obama is the anti-Kerry in this one regard, and are very heartened by that fact.

Do you realize how incredibly quickly and effectively his campaign responded to Clinton’s fear in the night ad? It was impressive whether you agree with him or not. Unfortunately I’m afraid giving a “shame on you” speech that is widely perceived as whining and nagging just isn’t anywhere near as effective and McCain seems to be way behind the curve on this as well.
on 01 Mar 2008 at 5:25 pm3Ron

Notice how any implication that Obama should do something is taken as a repudiation of his divinity? I watched the guy and he’s gives great speech, but try as I might I just can’t make out the halo. ‘Course, I’m one of those who feel a certain amount of pride in being uninterested in being taken up by the rapture, too. I’ll be happy if he can just bring back honest government and I’ll not be crushed when he continues protection of our corporate masters.
on 01 Mar 2008 at 7:24 pm4memyself

“any implication that Obama should do something is taken as a repudiation of his divinity? ”

Wow, apparently pointing out an inaccurate claim is now sufficient cause to smear someone.

Nice. real nice.

The posting calls for Obama to do something he’s already done and to be something he’s already demonstrated he is. How on earth is pointing out specific information that contradicts the posting indicative that anyone thinks Obama is godlike?
on 02 Mar 2008 at 3:52 am5amy

I understand that his lengthy background in constitutional law, which includes a stint teaching at the University of Chicago law school, has led him to conclude that Bush,et.al. should not be impeached, because impeachment should be reserved for “high crimes”. That, of course, is the constitutional language, but I cannot imagine what planet he is living on if he think their actions do not meet that standard!
Last June 27th he said, “I think you reserve impeachment for grave, grave breaches, and intentional breaches of the president’s authority”

” I believe if we began impeachment proceedings we will be engulfed in more of the politics that has made Washington dysfunction,” he added. “We would once again, rather than attending to the people’s business, be engaged in a tit-for-tat, back-and-forth, non-stop circus.”

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Amen

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