If there is one thing I know about myself, it is that I do not have the mind of a passionate single issue activist, to whom the accomplishment of one goal is the end all be all of political existence and activity.
I do not take a setback on one of my cherished goals as the end of the fight.
I do not wrap all of my hopes and dreams and idealism up in one issue or one politician.
I do not take my disappointment in the actions of one of my political heros as the end of all hope in the future.
Yet many here do. Many here are ready to throw Obama to the wolves because of a pragmatic political decision made in the middle of the campaign. Many here not only do not see the forest from the trees, but they refuse to.
I disagree with his decision, but I can see why he has made it. By going along with the 105 Democrats in the House on this compromise, he does two things: 1) he avoids creating a rift among Democrats, which the media loves, and 2) he deprives the Republicans of an issue this fall.
Now some of you say bring on the rift with those establishment Democrats who possess no spine and kneel before Mr. 29%. Bring on the debate on this issue with the Republicans in the fall. Well, we will be having this debate with the Republicans in the fall, but on Obama's terms, not with Republican framing about protecting Amuricans from terraists. And why in God's name would you trust the media to report the rift among Democrats on this issue accurately?
Obama's decision was a political one. Activists with a pure heart and limitless passion are adverse to political decisions. They see political decisions and compromise as betrayal. I understand why that is. Because they pour all they have into one goal, and they react with all they have when that goal is frustrated, even by a candidate that they love.
I echo what DemFromCT said on the front page this morning:
Still, as disappointed as I am about what passed the House, I suppose it's good to focus on Obama's intent to run as a candidate from the center. Too many people have too many unwarranted expectations about what Obama would do as President. At the same time, Obama is sending a clear message that he intends to run pragmatically, and has the toughness to do so. Whether it's FISA or campaign finance, that means making some people unhappy. Running to the center means increasing his chances of winning and the size of the win, and it also means that the "Obambi" slurs (weakness, no substance) are badly missing the mark. I'm not suggesting we suck it up and like everything he does, I'm suggesting we be realistic about expectations.
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[...Obama will] do a bunch of other things in the name of party unity to piss us and the talking heads off, all while enhancing his chances to win.
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When he screws up, he'll need us to hold his feet to the fire (and we will ...[.] But that's a discussion I am happy to have, rather than inane ones that no one cares about, like flag pins and campaign finance reform, and whether or not David Brooks or David Broder (each of whom never met a Republican he didn't like) is disappointed in Barack Obama. The election season is upon us, and personally, I couldn't be happier. It means we are one step closer to getting that walking disaster out of the White House, and don't lose sight (even for a moment) of what that means and which party George Bush presides over. And if it means treating our candidate like the imperfect vessel he is, warts and all, so be it. Our guy is head and shoulders above their guy, and it's going to be fun to prove it, FISA notwithstanding.
The forest is winning. The forest is getting the opportunity to affect real change, with a Democratic President and a overwhelmingly Democratic Congress. The trees of the forest are the many issues we care about.
I can see the forest, and I love the forest. And that necessarily means that I love the trees that make up the forest. But it does not mean I will burn down the forest when one tree loses a limb, or a branch. When a tree loses a limb or a branch, its growth into what it is meant to be is stunted for a time, but not forever. When you see the forest, you see that as well.
It is all about the big picture.
And sometimes my activist friends here at Daily Kos and elsewhere don't see the big picture. And that is why, on days like this, I stay here when others threaten to leave or do in fact leave out of frustration. If only to lift spirits and give perspective.
So be angry. Be frustrated. Use that to hold Obama's feet to the fire, both during his campaign and once he is elected. For it is much better to be angry at a President Obama than it is to be angry at a President McCain. If only because it will happen less.