It’s Not Easy Bein’ Blue

..........................America is not Center-Right at all......The Republican Right Wing has major influence because so many Poor and Moderate Income Americans do not get out to the polls and vote in our elections especially on the local level where political power begins. Plus our Media in all of its forms are controlled by the Corporations and Wealthy Individuals, so what we hear on radio and television or see in the print media has been slanted to the Right for year after year..........this influences public opinion and elections!!!!!!

To do the greatest good for the greatest number of people is never about being Conservative, Liberal, or Centrist. It's about Conscience, Judgement, and Fair Justice. Senator Obama should have learned, from his lengthy campaigning, that hate, prejudice, and corruption and dishonor are never justifiable and should be condemned. He should have learned that it is the People's faith in him, not just Party association, that is keeping his Campaign alive and thriving. As America's President, he should continue to stand tall, lead with wisdom, conscience, and fair justice to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people in this nation. He should remain as cool, stable, and steady to do what's right by the people, and for the people... without much ado to please or be corrupted by the mob-like odeologies of the Conservatives, Liberals or Centrists. Time does change; People do change; situations do change... a President Obama should be able to handle any change in accordance to the best of his wisdom and judgement . Let's pray that America can again have a President who will lead with courage, moral conscience, wisdom, and fair justice for all. Let's hope that his Cabinet is made up of good Americans with just as equal moral conscience, wisdom, and fair justice and do what's right to bring back the integrity, credibility and respect that America deserves.

Very interesting article touching on many different and related points. I think broadly speaking that Americans socially are not the same as they were 40 - 60 years ago, and are thereby going through a transitional change, the catalyst is chaos. And as we know change in chaos requires visionary leaders. Sen. McCain would make a good, strong president, 10 - 20 years ago, but I am unconvinced that he is truly visionary enough to lead American where it not only needs to go, but it going anyway. And at this point the wrong leader would be potentially ruinous. The world around America has changed, shaped to a large degree by America. HOwever the worlds image of America has been shaped by its relationship with American. It remind me of an adage where a man fought for so long to free his family, not realising when the struggle ended and not understanding what to do with the freedom once it was gained, and so he simply continued fighting in the same vein to his own and his family detriment. In this transitional period it is well to have faith in the American people and the conservative traditions of free enterprise believing as you will that this will engender progress in the right direction (pun intended); however people as a mass are unorganised and this new generation requires leadership that not only understands and embraces traditional values but has the capacity and vision to lead into the future; and for me that embodies what Obama stands for

We are a nation "more instinctively conservative than we are liberal"? Do you think we believe that is so just because you say so? We are a nation reawakening to our sense of fundamental fairness. Trickle down prosperity? Anyone can strike it rich? We are not fools. And we're going to speak up.

I would imagine the two little boy brats had their professors write their "theses" for them. Or, maybe newsweak.

My, my - what a couple of little boy brats! Now I know why I don't like Obama - it is "you people"!

Interesting but (as the article tacitly admists) not a very easy argument to defend. In fact fairly trivial to refute. Many other commenters have voiced the obvious counterpoints ??? more Democratic registrations than Republican and what polls actual say about the population's position on issues. Republican strategists hope for low rather than high voter turnout for a reason, after all. Focusing on the presidency is obviously a bias; it is the one election more heavily influenced by the issue of national security.

Maybe a better approach is to consider the degree to which American history is sometimes characterized by the right consistently winning battles while the left consistently wins wars over time. This is the nature of progressive vs. conservative politics, as advocacy of change is more likely to be initially met with resistance, and is more likely to have political costs exacted even when the argument is won over time.

One example: a few generations ago, public racism and segregation was widely accepted, and opposing it in many places was political suicide. Over time, progress happens, and today the right's position is generally that racial inequality is ancient history, mentioning it is poor form and associating current thinkers with it is met with outrage ??? even if literally talking about the same conservative leaders who were pro-segregation during the civil rights struggle.

Similar stories for labor rights over time, women's rights; the environment will be similar. In 100 years it's an easy bet that the right will be spinning to some degree in arguing how conservatism had always had a visionary (or at least more responsible) commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, but in the near term an Al Gore is more likely to lose to a George W Bush than not, as his frivolous-seeming concerns over far-off environmental problems are a liability. Gay rights will likely follow a similar course ??? political suicide now, probably inevitable over time.

The thing is, the principles of liberty at the core of the American vision actually do have moral power, and it may take decades and generational turnover but this country is too great to not move forward, and to not lead the world in doing so.

This is one of the most thoughtful "WHAT IF" scenarios I have read. It was on a comment opportunity after people voted on who won the debate in a Colorado Springs newspaper.

Obama/Biden vs McCain/Palin, what if things were switched around...think about it. Would the country's collective point of view be different? (10/8/08)

Ponder the following:

What if the Obama???s had paraded five children across the stage, including a three month old infant and an unwed, pregnant teenage daughter?

What if John McCain was a former president of the Harvard Law Review?
What if Barack Obama finished fifth from the bottom of his graduating class?

What if McCain had only married once and Obama was a divorcee?
What if Obama was the candidate who left his first wife after a severe disfiguring car accident, when she no longer measured up to his standards?

What if Obama had met his second wife in a bar and had a long affair while he was still married?
What if Michelle Obama was the wife who not only became addicted to pain killers but also acquired them illegally through her charitable organization?

What if Obama had been a member of the Keating Five? (The Keating Five were five United States Senators accused of corruption in 1989, igniting a major political scandal as part of the larger Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980s and early 1990s.)

What if McCain was a charismatic, eloquent speaker?
What if Obama couldn't read from a TelePrompTer?
What if Obama was the one who had military experience that included discipline problems and a record of crashing four planes?

What if Obama was the one who was known to display publicly, on many occasions, a serious anger management problem?

What if Michelle Obama's family had made their money from beer distribution?
What if the Obama???s had adopted a white child?


You could easily add to this list. If these questions reflected reality, do you really believe the election numbers would be as close as they are?
This is what racism does. It covers up, rationalizes and minimizes positive qualities in one candidate and emphasizes negative qualities in another when there is a color difference.

Educational Background:

Barack Obama:
Columbia University - B.A. Political Science with a Specialization in International Relations.



Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna *** Laude
Joseph Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. In History and B.A. In Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

Versus

John McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank: 894 of 899

Sarah Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. In Journalism

Education isn't everything, but this is about the two highest offices in the land as well as our standing in the world. You make the call.

The GOP does represent the basest human instinct, unfettered greed.

And they assert their right to try to conquer the world. Problem is they do it at all costs, breaking all the rules, and there is no honor amongst thieves they often find themselves alone, like Aguirre, floating downriver on a raft all their comrades gone, victims of their self serving nature.

Democrats are the party of the greater good, of community. Both are necessary impulses in a specie, battling it out for supremacy, but when the selfishness starts to hurt the herd, that's when communal instinct kicks in, and will wreak its vengeance upon Mad King George, and all his egg headed men. herzog

Hmmm, neos. You have served with American soldiers of the Islamic faith? You must be really special, or a liar! Please inform me of your "special unit"? No doubt, most Iraqis in the U.S. hated Saddam, and Iranians hate Ahmendinjab (well, let's let's just call him Cousin Tom for now). The point is - why are there Iraqis & Iranians, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, etc., etc., here? If you "love America", why are you here.
s

I do believe McCain is better than that, and I am sure he fights a daily battle to keep his integrity intact, but Sarah honestly worries me. Colin Powell is a man of incredible honor. He has served his country for over forty years and now has the luxury to speak what he believes to be true. He and I have both served with American soldiers of the Islamic faith who have given their all for this country. To not stand up against this current wave of bigotry would be dishonorable.

Until we stop dividing ourselves and questioning each other's patriotism we will not fulfill the American dream of creating that more perfect union. As for poor benighted Stcyx-that is not who we are or who we should be. Nor should either side ever, ever condone these actions. Not for votes. Not for anything.

As they say, I will take my answer offline. Time to go. I'll give you the last word.

shouldn't we all be strong in are believes whether political or religious (zealots good one) all I am is a middle class man that wants this world to be a good place for my kids to grow up is. I'm not poor and not rich just trying to make a living and watch my kids grow

NFTHT, LOL. Nah, you take it . It will sound so much more convincing coming from you. But this is why Gen. Powell endorsed. We can't have this going on.

As Democratic registrations significantly outnumber Republican registrations (since the 1930s notwithstanding Presidential elections), the premise of this article is simply incorrect. That being said, Obama is temperamentally much more conservative in the sense of an Edmund Burke conservative than John McCain, making endorsements by Christopher Buckley and Colin Powell not very surprising.

The idea that this is a conservative country is ridiculous! I am tired of people buying into the Republican talking points!!!! The country is liberal on EVERY issue besides national security if the polls mean ANYTHING. The public is always with the Democrats on the issues! We are center-left if anything.

What in the hell does "NFTHT Nah" mean. Sorry, I'm not 12 years old playing on the internet.

NFTHT Nah, it will be over early in the evening. Watch for VA and FL.

May I ask, why newsweak, will not take my comments?

Finally, newsweak, has a columnist that is actually somewhat balanced. Good for Meachem!