E Pluribus
If you missed Obama's victory speech from South Carolina last night, it's worth watching. Extremely intelligent, finely crafted, inspirational. Not quite one for the ages but head and shoulders above most of the dreck one sees on the campaign trail.
A couple random thoughts about all this: Obama's convincing win in South Carolina should bring in a lot more endorsements from fence-sitters who reassess their relationship with the Clintons. And Caroline Kennedy's endorsement will help a lot (while pushing Ted in the right direction). Michelle Obama seems like a wonderful person who would make a great first lady. The contrast with the Clintons couldn't be more stark. And finally, what's up with Florida?
Hillary keeps talking about "on to Florida" despite the Democratic Party having ruled that Florida delegates won't be seated at the convention because the Florida Democrats moved their primary up too early in the calendar. Evidently Hillary thinks that, as usual, rules don't apply to her. That the Democratic Party will allow her to take all the Florida delegates without a fight, fair or otherwise. What rubbish! This Florida delegate thing has been chewed over enough already in the blogosphere, but I had to mention it because I find it so irksome.
If Obama becomes the Democratic nominee I predict he'll win the general election easily against whoever the Republican may be. If Hillary is nominated it seems to me that odds are she would lose to any of the Republicans, and especially to McCain, but it would be closely contested. And by the way, if it becomes Hillary versus McCain, look for the Clintons to start dishing the dirt... of which I understand there is an ample supply, as yet unreported.
Posted by George Kenney on January 27, 2008 9:01 AM 
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Comments
I wish I could share your new-found optimism, George.
I think Hillary was correct in the recent debate saying that the November election will be about "national security". If that is made the issue by the Republicans and the media, then Hillary will lose because she accepts their frame and will be fighting on their turf.
I am very leery of Obama's ability to win the general election, as are Larry Johnson and his blogmates at No Quarter. Besides having his own skeletons, it would be difficult for Obama to dish the dirt on McCain while maintaining his "new kind of politics" image.
I think the best hope for the Democrats is to have a dead heat going into the convention and find a new candidate that can unite the party and take back the White House.
Posted by: Democracy Lover
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January 27, 2008 9:51 AM
George, I am also desperately in need of optimism. Hillary must be eliminated. But regarding Obama's inspiring image, read this depressing account from John Pilger of liberal icon Robert Kennedy, whose image was similar to Obama's:
http://www.antiwar.com/pilger/?articleid=12251
The moral: We can't trust anybody, and all our hopes and dreams must be abandoned! Or ... we might finally get lucky.
Posted by: benjamin777
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January 27, 2008 2:10 PM
Ted Kennedy just endorsed Obama! Notwithstanding what Pilger says about Robert Kennedy, my impression of Ted is very good. He certainly stood up in the Senate BEFORE the Iraq War and tried to stop it. Maybe Obama will listen to Ted once in office.
Posted by: benjamin777
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January 27, 2008 7:01 PM
Yes, Obama is probably better than Hilary, but as Mr. Nader has pointed out in the past, that is not the question.
'Is he good enough?' is the question, and for starters, no one who cannot identify war crimes (Iraq, Lebanon as two), funds continued slaughter of human beings (Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Palestine, Pakistan as some) and votes for constitutional violations (Patriot act II as one) is good enough.
Leaving Mike Gravel, Cynthia McKinney (and Ron Paul in a pinch) to vote for.
Posted by: john pasco | January 29, 2008 9:23 AM
I really do not share your enthusiasm for Obama. He is at least as much a warmonger as Hillary or Guiliani, he is completely sold out to AIPAC and since his top security advisers are Zbigniew Brzezinski, the man to whom we owe 911 (among other things), Anthony Lake, the man who pushed for the invasion of Haiti, General Merrill McPeak, the deliverer of fighter planes to Indonesia after the Dili massacre and, last but not least, Dennis Ross — one of the most Likudnik-like US politicians (for more on the Obama advisers, and the rest of them 'war whisperers' see here: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/3/vote_for_change_atrocity_linked_us)
No, Obama is little more than yet another product of the US Nomenklatura. The fact that he is black changes nothing (think Powell or Condi here).
Since Kucinich dropped out, and since Nader is not running, the only two non-Fascist candidates left in the race are Mike Gravel (he is still running, right?) and Ron Paul.
VS
Posted by: Vineyardsaker | January 29, 2008 3:14 PM
Fine words butter no parsnips — Obama may be a skilled orator but to UK eyes he is the image of our middle east envoy/corporate entertainer and ex prime minister.
These people are well aware of how valuable words can be, and how cheap talk really is.
Posted by: paul | February 1, 2008 7:22 AM