THE SPINE FEBRUARY 8, 2008
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It just may be that we Americans are too enmeshed in the intra-party fracas--the Democratic one, at least--to see that the country will by election day have crossed the big river. No, not into the promised land exactly. But into that land that, as George Washington put it in his 1790 letter to the Touro Synagogue, "gives to bigotry no sanction..." There should be felt a glory in each of us that, likely, the next president of the United States will be an African American or a woman. This would be another version of the Emancipation Proclamation, but proclaimed by the demos itself not by the chief executive.And even if the black candidate or the female one is not finally the choice of the electorate, but the Republican nominee is the victor, we shall also be liberated from the cult of money as reward from the hidden hand. The military hero has his own virtues, and none of them is extremism.Which brings me to a short essay in by Philip Stephens in Friday's Financial Times, "A chance to redesign the contours of American politics." I think it is grander than that: a chance to redesign the contours of American history.
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4 comments
Just a little remindier.
The last time a woman was on the Democratic Presidential Ticket, 1984, the Democrats lost every state but Minnesota. Largest Electoral Vote for a President ever.
Against a candidate who really didn't run too hard.
Who the Democrats hated with all the passion in their souls.
I'd hold off on the chanpagne until we start to see some releveant polls or other indications this election will be historic.
And one more item I would like to know right now. Is America ready to vote for a woman or African American for President? The last thing I want to hear November 5th is that America is too Sexist or Racist as sour grapes. If you believe in Hillary or Obama, put you money where your mouth is and tell me know that you think they can win. And if they don't, admit defeat like a man. Take you lumps and aknowledge your adversary. But don't blame American Voters.
- CRS9TNR
February 9, 2008 at 12:46pm
CRST Candidates matter and Obama and Clinton are no Walter Mondales. The country is in a different place this time around. Beside that was 24 years ago. I myself was 15 . (I am 39 now). If you don't think time has changed things well there's not too much I can say to you.
- bsdespain
February 9, 2008 at 2:44pm
CRST, Ferraro (who's now advising Hillary) was a negative asset to the Mondale ticket thanks to her husband's shady financial dealings and her refusal to address the issue honestly -- not because of her gender. Then again, Mondale was losing badly before he chose Ferraro, so her Clintonesque problems with husband, money, and ethics didn't actually cost Mondale the election.
- rhubarbs
February 9, 2008 at 3:18pm
Clinton's ethics problems and that of her spouse dwarf Ferraro's and her spouse. [It's kinda like the difference between murder and mass murder.] One can like the Clintons for their political positions (which dffer in light shades of gray from Obama's), and be somewhere between appalled and concerned at their personal and political ethics. There is much talk about risks of the unvetted unkown in this year's nomination and final election fight. One of those risks that stand a highh probabvility of surfacing is all the scandals surrounding the Clinton pardons and the Presidential Library.
McCain and Obama can believably say "After 16 years, it is time to restore personal AND politcal integrity to the White House." Clinton can not. Obama may never really say it.. ... McCain certainly will -- and it WON'T be regarded as a Swiftboat charge by many Democrats and Independents.
- gbittner
February 9, 2008 at 5:10pm