Boy, it's really hard to punctuate that title. Comma? Semi-colon? I took my cue from Vonnegut in that semi-colons are for Neanderthals. Although now that I think about it, a subtle dig at our National political stage's equivalent to a one-hit wonder might have been appreciated by you literary types in our blog-o-cosm (of which I am obviously not, so please don't go there). Like many of you I literally, literally(!) cringed when I heard that at the VP debate. Just forget about who said it. If any other leader, or challenger to our previous leaders, had said that (it's like a second grade bad grammar contest: An ain't, a Ya, and a semi-colon in ten words or less) in front of a National audience they would be laughed off of the stage. Literally!
But I digress. This isn't about the Bridezilla from Wasilla. This isn't even about Lieberman so much.
But since you brought it up (I tend to imagine the questions in your heads as I'm typing this) I'm really sick of Lieberman. I have been for a long time. I couldn't stand him in 2000. He's one of the reasons I didn't vote for Gore in 2000. And no I didn't vote for Bush...I....voted......for.......nader. If you've never voted for nader you'll never know how hard that was to write (again, PLEASE don't go there, eight years aren't nearly enough to heal those wounds). Do I think Lieberman is a tool? Yes. Do I think he got off easy today? Absolutely. Do I care? Sure, but in the grand scheme of things it's just not important.
You betcha he said some terrible things about our President-Elect. You betcha he's, too, as well as, incompetent at his chairmanship, also (ending a sentence with 'also', that's another one for you literary types out there). An gondoggit he's gonna have to answer to his constituent people, too, in four years, also (I mean really, have you ever met an adult who talks like this? Answer: No!...for you McLaughlin Group fans out there).
This isn't about the side-show freaks too many of us currently occupy ourselves with, myself included. This is about the main event.
In all seriousness this is about the faith I have in our President-Elect.
I can remember, just over four years ago now, when I watched this nobody from IL give the keynote address at the Democratic Convention. I was literally (Damn You, Biden!) moved to tears. I remember thinking that it was a terrible mistake to put Obama on that platform. He outshone every other speaker. From Kerry's bob-and-weave presentation (Note to the Younger Generation: 'Float like a butterfly and sting like a bee' doesn't work in politics, particularly if you don't have a stinger) to Edwards happy populism. I can tell you with all honesty that I finished watching Obama's speech and said "I just watched the future President of our Country" to those I was with. Probably like many, many of you. Although I wasn't physically there, and don't know anyone who was, I'm sure he exceeded everyone's expectations who planned that event.
I can remember when Obama announced he was going to run for the Presidency in '08. I remember thinking, 'You have my support but it's not your time!' Shows you what I know. I was convinced early on that Hillary would win. To be honest, I liked all of the candidates. Gravel with his rock ad. It was so out-there you couldn't not love it. And Kucinich gave a barn-burner at the convention. Dodd with his rail against the telecom immunity, if you haven't watched it find it. It's long but it's one of the best speeches I've ever seen on the Senate floor. They were all good in their own way, but this rookie from IL near the end of 2007 started to get massive movement in the polls and made every one start paying attention. Even if he couldn't beat Hillary, Barack had exceeded everyone's expectations (including mine).
I can remember when Obama won Iowa. I was watching the caucus returns come in while visiting my girlfriend in DC. It was a nail biter for a bit. Edwards was still a factor then, Hillary actually came in third! Probably like many of you this surprised the hell out of me....totally, like, I mean, ya (if Palin can do it then so can I). I also remember watching his surprising defeat a few days later in NH. I also remember watching him in defeat, giving one of the best political speeches of the electoral season. Probably just like many of you did. His wins (and non-wins with FL and MI) exceeded everyone’s expectation.
Like many of you I remember Super Tuesday. I remember thinking that Hillary was going to take the rookie down that night. It didn't happen. Obama went on to win a string of decisive victories in WI, VA, LA, and MS. After that it was the first time I starting thinking of the vision of Obama. And not just Obama, but the team of people he can select and put around him. It was the first time I thought about not just donating money to him, but donating my feet and my time. Probably like many of you. Probably like many of you I wanted to tell my relatives and my children and grandchildren that I was part of the team, no matter how low the level. It was then that I (think) I began to understand Obama's viewpoint: this wasn't some hubris on his part where he deserved to be President, he desired to serve and bring me, and you, and you, and you, and all of you, into the process. And throughout the Democratic Primarary he exceeded everyone's expectations.
Watching the Democratic Primary so closely and being so personally involved in the process makes the Presidential election look like an after-thought. It was Obama's election to lose and he didn't do that. In fact he pounded the opposition. In the end he didn't do this. The people around him did this. All of us who volunteered for him did this. We did this. Yes, he commanded the ship, but we made it float, we made it steer straight, and we made it reach its destination. Our commander knows this.
If you'll allow me one last reminiscences, I just love thinking back to the VP selection. The media (as well as many of us) were chomping on the bit to know who the selection was. The media was infuriated that they didn't know first. Pundits were screaming at each other in oblivion. It was truly glorious. Again, he exceeded everyone's expectation on how tight lipped his organization could be, literally (Biden again, damn you!). We're seeing a slightly less effective version of that now. The media wants to know who his cabinet is NOW, NOW, NOW! We want to know now, noW, NOW! Me? I don't care. For the time being this guy has my trust and he has exceeded every single expectation I had of him. Americans have become so accustom to political theatre, we don't know how to respond when an adult enters the room. We all need a political slapping around (me especially, Mommie, Mommie, I've been a bad boy!).
In conclusion, what do I think of the current political theatre? I sit back and laugh. Let's be brutally honest here: This guy knows his politics, and he will play the media (and to the extent we follow the media, us) like a fiddle. But for the time being, he has my political capitol (although I'll be the first to turn on him like one of Michael Vick's pitpulls if he disappoints me...too much?), I hope he has yours. My suggestion is to sit back, grab a six-pack and nachos, and enjoy the ride.
If you made it to the end Peace, Love, Dove.
-CB