Date: 2016-02-05 04:18 pm (UTC)
Seriously, nothing will ever match the hope we felt when Obama spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. At that moment it seemed that the United States could truly be united and racism could come to an end in America. It was a great speech. But it's important to keep in mind just how young and inexperienced Obama was. He still had yet to win his seat in the US Senate. He ended up serving only half a term before moving to the White House. It was an extraordinarily rapid rise. Thank goodness he was up to the challenge. Yes, there were things he could have done better, but they weren't the big things. His position on gay marriage "evolved" finally. His feelings about racism and gun violence have been clarified by the accumulation of tragedies and he is more willing and able to speak his mind. I like him more now. Before I was very happy to vote for him, and I was incredibly relieved that he managed to save the economy and to pass health insurance reform. But he was reserved, saying only what he needed to say while offending as few as possible of the people he needed votes from. I'm not complaining. He had to do it. But now as a lame duck with a Republican majority in Congress, he isn't coasting. He is showing real passion, and he is finding creative ways to use his administrative powers to make progress without legislative support. All the indications are that he will make a great ex-president and I am looking forward to having him around for a long time.

As for the current race, I like Bernie. I like Hillary too. Bernie speaks compellingly about the need to end economic inequality in America. I think Bernie says it better partly because he has nothing to lose and this is his last hurrah. Hey, I really liked McGovern too. Meanwhile, Hillary has created a campaign that is broadly inclusive. It is a coalition to reduce not just economic inequality but also racial and gender inequality. I think Hillary cannot say it as well because she doesn't want to promise anything she can't deliver. She is running not just to win but to govern. She has a better chance of making this country a better place than anyone else running.
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randy_byers

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