Fierce Urgency

 

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The trouble with optics extends, alas, to Obama's scenery last night. The false grandeur of the columns isn't the problem, the detail work is. In close-up—which is how most of the clips will be replayed—much of what you see behind Obama is some kind of taupe surface with brown detailing, like a fancy garage door, or a cross-section of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. It's not a vista that would make me more likely to think that Democrats have a deep and abiding love of country, had I been inclined to doubt it.

Still, it was against that peculiar backdrop that Obama brought forward a motif that had been lurking in the convention since Ted Kennedy's possible valedictory on opening night. At the 1960 convention, Norman Mailer described the Democratic nominee as a man who carried himself "with a cool grace which seemed indifferent to applause, his manner somehow similar to the poise of a fine boxer, quick with his hands, neat in his timing, and two feet away from his corner when the bell ended the round." After Obama's pugilistic speech last night, the parallel doesn't seem crazy. He was inspiring last night, tough-minded, calculating (in the way that he'd defanged the Clintons the night before), and comfortable with the language of patriotism (as when he said he wants to make America "once again that last, best hope for all who are called to the cause of freedom").

That doesn't mean he's the new JFK. Nobody could be. But Obama does, more than anybody in politics today, speak JFK's language of shared sacrifice and common purpose, of "ask what you can do for your country." If his philosophy were widely shared by other Democrats, it could be their unifying creed. But on this, as on so many things, it appears they have some catching up to do.

© 2008

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Member Comments

  • Posted By: Payday Loan @ 01/16/2009 3:26:31 AM

    Many people can be affected by this economic status by the republication that they now experiencing but we cannot deny the fact despite of because of these great economic disaster that would make Obama good enough to get the sympathy of the voter in the democratic country. Last year was not a good year financially. Many people found it beyond difficult to make ends meet and needed a payday loan more frequently than ever before. The New Year has begun, and many people are struggling to achieve their New Year???s resolution: improved financial planning. The other day I was on a payday loan money blog at PersonalMoneyStore.com and found an interesting article, which goes over proper debt consolidation, and it also had great money saving tips. Saving money on the little things can create a bigger savings fund that will prevent you from having to get a payday loan during those unforeseen financial events. I recommend you read and learn more money management tips at the <a title ="Financial Preservation Part 1 | A Payday Loan Can Help" rev= "vote-for" href="http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/01/06/financial-preservation-part-i-a-payday-loan-can-help/">payday loan</a> money blog at PersonalMoneyStore.com.


  • Posted By: TruthForward @ 10/23/2008 2:19:07 PM

    Taxes:

    -Those making between $250,000 and $400,000 annually will have less than $1,500 increase in their taxes. (These people are not complaining. Joe is not one of these people.)

    -Those making more than $3 Million annually will pay only 23%.

    This will PAY FOR the tax cuts given to the middle class.
    This WILL NOT INCREASE THE DEFICIT!

    Calculate your taxcut: http://taxcut.barackobama.com/

    ...................

    McCain has a Santa Clause approach to tax cutting. He wants to make cuts, but has not identified how it will be paid for. This will never pass Congress.

    McCAIN'S TAX PLAN (or slogan) WILL WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT!

    Get your specific McCain Tax info (if available)
    http://www.johnmccain.com/Issues/JobsforAmerica/taxes.htm
    McCain has slogans not plans.

  • Posted By: Lee Holmes @ 08/29/2008 6:48:17 PM

    In expanding on this,we look to Barack Obamas own tax plan. In it,we observe the threshold whereby those who pay no federal taxes whatever at a minimum earnings level[18,682$ per annum],would yet each garner 557$ a year in tax refunds.[this of course rises with child credits,and other deductions divorced from the non-taxable 18 grand wage threshold]. Obviously along with college assistance,universal health care,renewable energy divorced from any consideration of fossil fuels exploitation,government mortgage assistance,this 557$ for each of these is going to have to come from somewhere. The ''rich''who admittedly only make up 1% ,will not be enough. To ''level''this field,the threshold of those deemed to have enough to support the have-nots,will begin to drop[same as it did in 1993-1994 before the ''Contract with America''GOP takeover,which was at heart, a tax revolt by Americans]. Thus we will no longer be even talking about the 250-Granders. It will go to 80,70,60 and less. The sheer numbers of supplicants even removed from Social Security concerns,[i.e.social reformers,enviros,infrastructure demands],will dry the money lake,and it will be finally,the broad middle class that will foot the bill. The ''level''field that Obama seeks,but does not mention its final cost. Particularly to those he needs to get him to the White House.

    www.taxpolicycenter.org BROOKINGS Institute. Tax Graphs,McCain/Obama,Aug.28,2008.

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