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2/8/2008
Well, my blood is pumping!
Boy, it’s only early February, and I’m pumped for this presidential election. Because it’s so important? Because these are very real people, with real frailties? Because an orator, a strong (?) woman and persistent POW bring folks to the edge of their seats?
Obama and Beth
Today I’m excited because my daughter is excited! This is a woman who, when she was mad at this old GOP’er as a child, would shake her finger at me and threaten “When I grow up, I’m going to be a Democrat!” Oh horrors!
And Democrat she most surely became and has remained. Though thrilled with meeting Bill and Hillary on the 1996 campaign trail in her college years, this year it’s Obama through and through. Beth is in Denver in the 2nd year of a medical residency; key to her is quality health care – made available to all in America. Short on sleep because she’s on call every other night (or something like that), still she reveled in attending her very first party caucus this last Super Tuesday.
Beth described the gathering of perhaps 1,000 people from ten precincts as an “old-fashioned, pre-internet gathering of neighbors.” She shared several thoughts – here are just a few:
- A friend went with her, registered as an independent. He couldn’t sign in as a Democrat, but could have raised his hand to vote (didn’t), just as could, say, illegal immigrants were they there.
- After the vote for candidates, folks migrated to separate rooms to elect delegates from their own neighborhood precinct. “This is America. All kinds of people learning about the system, children with their parents, learning the democratic process…. Delegate candidates as they stepped to the soapbox, were nervous, self-conscious,” but still proudly aware of their role in history and visibly excited.
- Homemade signs were scattered throughout the high school gymnasium.
- “Trays of cheap cookies” were passed among a crowd that didn’t quite know how to take the loaves and fishes approach. It was a wonderful “wholesome affair.”
McCain and CPAC
Well, blood was surely pumping through the crowd at CPAC yesterday when John McCain pleaded with thousands and thousands of dyed-in-the-wool conservatives for their support. Jed Babbin (via Brian Fraley) warned that this was McCain’s moment to make or break, to befriend or to break ties – and he had to do it right. (Comments and link to the speech, here. I was inspired in the reading….)
Well, he did it right.
We have had a few disagreements, and none of us will pretend that we won’t continue to have a few. But even in disagreement, especially in disagreement, I will seek the counsel of my fellow conservatives. If I am convinced my judgment is in error, I will correct it. And if I stand by my position, even after benefit of your counsel, I hope you will not lose sight of the far more numerous occasions when we are in complete accord.
I talked with a good friend, one of those dyed-in-the-wools, right after coming from the very middle of it all. He described an electric crowd, thousands of expectant, then satisfied, then charged up conservatives.
- McCain was very humble, “half apologetic.”
- Yes, there were boos in the crowd. And a few Romney signs, a few Ron Paul signs. But overall, the crowd was boisterous, loud and very excited.
- George Allen introduced Senator Coburn (Mr. anti-earmark), who introduced Senator McCain, railing about the Arizona senator’s strong, tough, unyielding anti-earmark credentials.
- No, McCain’s campaign did not follow through with “the Reagan introductory video.” No, he did not compare himself for the whole world to see as another Ronald Reagan.
- Yes, we have differences, but let me tell you how I earned an 82% lifetime ACU rating…
- McCain pointed out the judges he’d fought for: Alito, Thomas, Roberts, Bork.
- McCain hammered hard at Iraq and Iran. “I intend to win the war….”
- The Senator passed over campaign-finance reform
- The Senator uncharacteristically smiled a lot.
My friend was “extremely pleased… and could “see the conservatives beginning to fall in line [behind John McCain.]” That’s what it’s about. Good.
Local post: Freedom Eden was impressed with the speech as well.
Couple of tidbits
Be sure to check out the stories in today's FoxPolitics News about the changes at the Capital Times. Big changes, reflecting the move to internet news, internet advertising. Wow. Big changes. Patrick McIlheran on the change: “Progressive media voice” has to give itself away free.”
Lastly, Representative Steve Kagen will be speaking at the February meeting of the Brown County Taxpayers Association. (Hmmm. That should be interesting….) The meeting is Thursday, February 21, 12 noon, at the Titletown Brewery, Green Bay in the “Frost Room.” Call Richard Parins, BCTA President, for information. 920-217-7661.
COMMENTS
These remarks are about Progressive media that were on FP Friday as sort of afterthought.
I regret the loss of the Capitol Times and its going to online and free (with
advertising) formats.
But columnists like the nationally known John Nichols appear in The Nation and that will (if the Cap Times proceeds with plans) leave The Progressive Populist newspaper. PP is available in public reading rooms like libraries and by subscription and online too. It is likely that a PP sub will be a lot less than a daily paper that is bloated with advertising (PP takes none.) There are these outlets for the progressive voice. Free papers like our own Valley Scene still manage to have some worthwhile features on the cover and at least one columnist (Tony Palmeri's Media Rant) who is not writing about lifestyle or food or wine.
Now to the main subject line about excitement over campaigns.
Elsewhere in the Progressive press (wait, I'm getting to the point) Naomi Klein made this quote to the effect that "Americans are pre-disillusioned about the results of the primary system." I thought this was pretty clever-- like pre-washed jeans or other artifacts that are canned and packaged and franchised.
I feel that pre-disillusionment as well and for a number of reasons.
For now and in this space I just want to have the readers of FP and of the progressive press as well be reminded that during past conventions by both parties there has been a substantial repression of dissent. Whether it was the RNC or the DNC they both had their
'protest zones' moved miles away from the actual site of the event. This fills me with as much shame as Abu Ghraib.
So before the anointing of the candidates, what can we expect for future conventions? What kinds of plans are being made now up in Minnesota to silence the voice of protest of a broken 2 party system?
What happened during this early going of the campaign was to marginalize those candidates not anointed by the decision makers at media and elsewhere on both sides so as to effectively 'shout down' those candidates' legitimate positions. You know who they are, I don't have to enumerate. I'm ashamed (not bitter) about the whole process.
Lon Ponschock (Fri Feb 08 13:28:03 2008)
HOW COME NO ONE IS TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IF HUCKABEE DOES WELL IN THE REMAINING STATES AND IF THE OTHER CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES LIKE ROMNEY GIVE THEIR DELEGATES TO HUCKABEE WE COULD THEN HAVE A CONSERVATIVE ON THE TICKET GO HUCKAEE I HOPE THIS HAPPENS SO I DONT HAVE TO JUMP SHIP AND VOTE FOR A DEMOCRAT. I WILL NOT VOTE FOR MCCAIN.
connie (Sat Feb 09 20:36:39 2008)
Connie: You cnanot be serious. Hillary instead of any Conservative is completely unacceptable. Higher taxes, socialized health care, etc., etc.....you have to be kidding! My blood in pumping too! Than's how the Conservatives lost the last election and the House and Senate. We failed to vote....we stayed home. Get it?
John Hyland (Mon Feb 11 09:14:29 2008)
I'm with you John. Absolutely.
Jo E. (Mon Feb 11 09:44:15)
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