(no subject)

[psocoptera]

I don't consider myself a Democrat; I mostly don't look to the government to be a force for good. I cried tonight during Obama's acceptance speech, somewhere around "the buses in Montgomery" and "if our children should live to see the next century." He really believes in progress; I'm going to lose my libertarian cred forever, but... I really believe he could be good for progress.

That's your president, I told the meeple. I never thought I'd be proud to say that.

Comments

[irilyth]

This is such a shallow thing, but I love love love that he sounds like an intelligent person when he talks. All the way back to Reagan, i.e. as far back as I can remember, we've had a President who makes me cringe when he gives speeches, and Obama doesn't do that.

Insofar as what America needs is someone to roll back the incalculable damage that Bush and his cronies have done to our once-great nation, I think that kind of charisma and rhetorical power is really valuable, and I have regained some hope.

(I know that Clinton was very charismatic, and that Reagan was The Great Communicator, but their speeches don't make me go "damn, wow" like Obama's do.)

an intelligent person

[eastgategirl.livejournal.com]

He doesn't just __sound__ like an intelligent person; he __is__ an intelligent person. And a thoughtful one, open to considering and weighing facts, ideas, and opinions from varied sources and making reasoned decisions. We all have great cause for hope, but no one individual can turn hope into action, so we also have great responsibility for helping to make sure that that hope is realized.

[asmanyaswill.livejournal.com]

Hooo, unh-unh, nope--not shallow at all. Essential, for the kind of crap we face in the world today. There are no easy answers, and there's gonna have to be some creative, well-reasoned thinking to get us out of some of these messes in which we find ourselves. I'm confident he's got the brains and the oratory; I'm pretty sure he's got the political mojo; and I'm hoping-hoping-hoping he's got the energy and drive of enough people behind him (and beside, and even in front...).

[q10.livejournal.com]

i know what you mean about libertarian cred - i had a moment this morning, staring down at the notes i'd put together to take with me to remind myself of the conclusions of my voting research, and thinking ‘my gods - i seem to have turned into some sort of Democrat!’

[myalexandria.livejournal.com]

welcome to the light side! It's warm and cozy here! :)

[cereph.livejournal.com]

I got wonderful shivers of excitement as each state for him was announced, and did get a bit glassy-eyed during his speech.

I'm not sure how to explain it so it makes sense, but I could really feel that history was being made, and just the absolute importance of the night, and it was wonderful to experience that first hand.

Democrats

[eastgategirl.livejournal.com]

I've considered myself a Democrat since I was a preteen. Democrats believe, as our great Republican President, Abraham Lincoln, said, in "government of the people, by the people, for the people." Democrats have learned from our history that sometimes people are so disadvantaged by their economic circumstances, their lack of education, their lack of job opportunities, their lack of health insurance, their lack of hope that caring family, neighbors, or religious institutions aren't sufficient to afford them the possibility of changing their lives for the better. Government help can sometimes be the only lifeline to provide that possibility. Until we truly have constructed a level playing field so that other meeples, through no fault of their own, don't start out miles behind yours, Democrats will be committed to moving our society towards that end.