Hillary Clinton has yet to admit that the Democratic Presidential Primary is a done deal, but the tone of media chatter that I’ve heard is that she’s going to – on a night of her own choosing, when she can have the spotlight on her for a moment. My personal feelings about that very, but at the moment, I feel like that’s an OK thing. Granted, her ‘offer to be Obama’s VP, in order to unify the party’ seemed rather out of line, to me. But, hey, I’d be happy to follow he lead and offer myself as Obama’s Technology Czar. Ezra Klein put it best, I think:
If you were Clinton and, on the one hand, you had your hated adversaries in the media clamoring for you to drop out, and on the other, you were mobbed, every day, by devoted supporters who had invested their hopes in you and begged you to keep up the fight, and you yourself wanted to continue prosecuting your case, well, what would you do?
I don’t think there’s a chance in hell that she’ll be Obama’s VP. In fact, I think McCain would be more likely to offer her the job than Obama, but we all know that’s not very likely, either. Obama will likely choose someone to round out his skills, maybe someone strong on foreign policy, to satisfy those who believe he needs more experience. I do believe he’ll make a wise choice, no matter who it is.
If Hillary gets a job in the Obama administration, I could see it having to do with healthcare, since that is one of her strong points, and the one she seems to be the most passionate about, at least if you narrow it down to things Obama and Clinton can agree on. And that would satisfy a lot of people.
Last night, about 5 hours after I scheduled the “Yes We Did” party, people began to show up at the SkyBox Grille. Kurt Bestor beat us all in the door, and was just beginning a snack as I walked in with Dimitrios and his girlfriend (sorry, I suck at names) to the back room where the big screen awaited us. Not long after, people began arriving, eager to own another little piece of this campaign. Many were people I’d never met before. Others were the people who I’ve known since this all started, like Theodore, Strider, Brandon, Janet Lee, Laurie Noda, and so many more. Rob Miller brought Utah Attorney General candidate, Jean Welch Hill, and Pete Ashdown and Robin Ballard brought their two youngest children. I would guess attendance at about 40 people. Which really isn’t bad, considering the short notice everyone had about the event.
Chris Vanocur, of ABC 4, sent down a camera to check out the activities. Halfway through Senator Obama’s speech, I was asked to do an interview, and so I missed much of the speech. I love technology, though. It’s all on YouTube, and I’ve put the video at the end of this article, in case anyone else would like to (re-)watch it. Kurt Bestor and Theodore Cowan were also interviewed, presumably because of their status as elected National Delegates for Senator Obama. ABC 4’s video feed isn’t allowed on this blog’s setup, so I can’t post it here. But, you can view it on ABC4.com.
KSL also had some interesting coverage yesterday regarding the Democratic Primary, including Donald Dunn’s take.
There were two other reporters there last night. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that they were reporters until it was too late, and they were gone. Apparently, one was from the Salt Lake Tribune.
The Deseret News had some other interesting news coverage yesterday. They quoted Wayne Holland as confirming rumors that I keep hearing, about Helen Langdon and Karen Hale switching from Hillary to Barack, as well as saying that Jim Matheson would be coming out for Barack. I’ve been hearing about the first two for a long while now, and from many different people. I had almost begun to think it was wishful thinking, but regardless, this is good news!
Now we can get on to the serious business of facing John McSame McCain. You know, Mr. 4-More-Years-Of-Bush, who thinks that spying on Americans is patriotic and on registering new voters across Utah. Watch for a summary very soon about the successes we’ve already had!
And now, on to Barack’s victory speech last night.
[Comment removed by Misty because it was offensive]
I see that my comment was deleted. If dissenting comments are unwelcome at this blog, maybe you could specify that up-front. Nothing I said was rude, insulting, or offensive. I simply made a point about the almost disturbing passion some Obama supporters exhibit toward their candidate. I guess dissent is only welcome when we’re talking about Republicans.
See, as much as I believe in freedom of speech, this is my own little world. You can congratulate yourself for being the first comment that I’ve deleted off of my blog (other than spam, and that I can recall, at least). “Andrea” posts comments meant to annoy all the time, and I haven’t removed any of those. Your comment was actually quite offensive to me.
I agree that some Obama supporters may go too far in their “idolization” of the Senator. But then, pick any subject and you can find people who do that.
For anyone wondering, “D. Sirmize” quoted scripture, replacing “God” with “Barack”.
I believe your point could have been made quite easily without desecrating holy scripture. And if anyone wants to do that in their own spaces, more power to them. But, I won’t be a part of it.
So, “D. Sirmize”, yes, I removed your comment because it was offensive to my personal beliefs, and not because it was “dissenting”.
Look, Misty, I like Obama. I think he looks, talks, and acts presidential. And the idea of a president that can actually connect with people is very refreshing. My beef with Obama supporters (not all of them, of course) is their downright pious devotion to him. I’ve never seen a candidate for major office that has been scrutinized less than Obama, and yet everybody is so mesmerized by the “yes we can” rhetoric.
It was not my intention to “desecrate holy scripture” (I’m guessing we share the same faith) or to offend. I honestly don’t think what I wrote was a big deal. It made my point quite well.
I’m very mesmerized by “yes we can”, because that’s not about Barack Obama. That’s about the power of the people, and the general idea of Democracy that we have here in America. By getting involved, people can change the things that need to be changed, and “yes we can” is representative of that, to me. I believe that Barack Obama is the president that we need so that can happen, though. John McCain is 4 more years of Bush, and his failed policies and his horrible war with Iraq, killing untold numbers of people, all for oil that we should be replacing with green energy. It’s very much about the big picture for me.
I don’t idolize Barack Obama. I’ve disagreed with him about things in the past, and I expect to disagree with him in the future. But, I believe that he’s an honest man, and someone I can trust to lead this country. If that comes off as some sort of creature worship, well…I’m not sure why, but you’re entitled to your opinion.
While we may disagree as to whether what you wrote was offensive, I think that the discussion since is far more useful than the original post.
YES WE CAN
A simple message of empowerment FOR the American people from one who would presume to lead them.
YES WE CAN
What does the GOP have? Several bad alterations on the Change / Hope theme, including one for an anti-depressant.
Of course, I suppose we can go with the tried and survived GOP motto of:
Yeah, D. Sirmize, “Yes We Can” is so SCARY! The American People not sitting on their hands with their head in the sand giving unquestioned obedience to the government!?!
Yeah, spot, I can see why you’re peeing yourself over this.
BTW: I find your use of scripture offensive as well. You’re probably one of those chuckleheads that thinks that the Old Testament actually has some significance other than putting the New Testament in context.
I believe Obama is personally honest. I have seen no evidence that I can trust his judgement. Were he applying for a job at my business and his resume related to the job were as thin as his resume for the presidency, I wouldn’t even give him a second look.
He’s running as the “postpartisan” candidate, yet he has the most partisan record of anybody I’ve seen. He’s running as a uniter, yet he’s never crossed the aisle on anything. He’s a uniter only if I come to his side.
I don’t think he’s thoroughly addressed certain issues like William Ayers and the Nation of Islam (members of which racist organization he currently employs).
Obama may not believe the deplorable things his pastor of two decades has said, but he sure handled the situation poorly. I don’t appreciate the “typical white person” comment, or him throwing his own grandmother under the bus for political gain.
So while I like him personally, I’m not about to put him in charge of the free world with a resume so thin and so many questions unanswered.
I think you and others who are taken by his inspiring rhetoric will ultimately be disappointed.
Bell, I’ve never understood why everybody and their dog link to your blog.
And when exactly did I say “yes we can” is scary? Emotion-targetting blather? yes. Scary? nah.
Spot? Peeing myself? Chucklehead?
And you’re offended at me, big man?
(counting the seconds until this comment gets deleted too…)
http://xkcd.com/386/
Well, which is it?
If you’ll go so far as to replace “God” with “Obama” to make a thinly veiled pointless point about political cultism, you’re either afraid or you’re trying to freak out others.
Everybody and their dog? Don’t I wish. I’ve been trying to get my dog to blog for years but he types way to slowly. People link to me because I’m caustic. That not really all that big a mystery. Oh, and, because I’m funnier than you. :)
Spot should have been Sport. Bad spell check.
Chucklehead? Really? I love that word. It’s a lot of fun to say. Do you not chuckle? Do you not have a head? We’re all a bunch of chuckleheads.
Peeing yourself? I used that as a lingual device, a metaphorical construct, if you will, to convey and reinforce my belief that, as someone who doesn’t consider American Territories as part of the United States, and, therefore, probably thinks that the slave labor situations on these islands is a-ok, you might be afraid, in a rhetorical context, of watching your candidate get mangled by the electoral college in November. I certainly didn’t mean to insinuate that you were ACTUALLY peeing yourself. Your incontinence is between you, your urologist and whatever you’re wearing at the time.
And finally:
Emotion Targeting Blather? More like striking a resonant note with voters. I find the whole thing a bit inspiring and when you consider my lifelong, and ever growing, level of jaded cynicism, I think that means something.
(As a side note, while the new U2 Laser show at the planetarium may suck: if you can catch U2-3D, it’ll blow your mind. Like Rattle and Hum on steroids.)
Really? We were talking about going to see the 3D version last night. Maybe we should, after all.
I’d say it was a religious experience, but D. Sirmize (Tyler?) might accuse me of being an Emotion Targeting Blathering music cultist.
HA HA!
D. Sirmize is an example of those who are only paying half attention (in my opinion, the most dangerous of voters, as they usually vote against their own best interest in the end), and react with an emotional negative to any emotional positive they might see.
And as with many things, there are many misunderstandings in the summation of Obama’s success. The Uniter argument Obama uses is an odd one, as a quick look (and simple google search) of Obama’s actual words reveals that when he says “Uniter,” he may not be talking about “crossing the isle,” he is talking about uniting Americans, as the current Neo-Con rendition of the GOP has nothing to offer them (i.e. why unite or cross the isle when on the other side of the isle is little more than failed policy and poisoned politics. Too often the argument is laced with the rhetoric of “bipartisan” as a guage of effective leadership, when in fact some of the best policy in our nations history is the result of long, heated partisan battles.
I think there is a level of bitterness moderate Democrats and conservatives feel towards Obama and Obama supporters as they watch his campaign engage a record number of voters and activists in ways I have only read about, and never seen in my lifetime. It is a form of jealousy common in those who still feel disenfranchised. The excitement of those who have found a cause to rally behind grates on their still disenfranchised nerves.
One not need be a cultist to realize there is something unique that has/is happening in 2008. And as a cynic myself, I am not without suspicion (His speeches are done very well, but I am by nature suspicious of speeches as defining elements before I vote, and I still wonder why he hasn’t done more with such easy identifying issues like FISA and the netroots). But never, and I mean NEVER, will you catch me trying to steal the thunder from those who have been energized, and feel reason to place a personal stake in his campaign, and his nearly certain election as the next President.
Nor would I begrudge anyone of their hesitation, as in politics it is always important to separate the campaign politician from the policy making politician after election.
But undeniably, after 8 years of Bush – and nearly 15 years of Neo-Con foreign and domestic policy – our country can most definitely use a little Bobby Kennedy injected into the system.
P.S. From a more “functional” standpoint for political activists, it is impossible not to rally behind Obama simply because he is running ground level campaign that will leave behind a large body of trained and experienced political reformers… which is something Utah desperately needs.
And I want to see U2-3D. Drunk.
Bell, U2-worship is A-ok with me. We’re in that cult together, brother.
For the record, I’m not Tyler. I’m Tyler’s resident fight-pickin’, environment-hating political blogger. Please don’t embarrass him by mistaking me for him!
I’ve seen neither the laser show or 3D, though I do remember seeing the old laser show at the Hansen Planetarium, which was pretty awesome.
Back to Obama, I’m planning a post that I hope at least two of the 4 people who read our blog will participate in. I’d like to know- cynicism and political B.S. aside- why a guy like me should vote for Obama.
If he’s going to win in Nov., he’ll need at least some crossovers. Please try to sell him to me in a way that I’d consider voting for him.
As for the hardened cynic being inspired by Obama and that being significant, I’ve known some pretty level-headed people who have fallen for pyramid schemes. I’m glad you’ve found your answer in Obama, but it’s going to take a lot to convince me to drink that Kool-Aid.
Lastly, I’m not sure how you concluded that 1) I’m afraid of Obama’s words, 2) that I don’t consider non-state U.S. territories as part of the U.S., 3) that I’m ok with slave labor, or 4) that John McCain is my candidate.
Well since you’re not Tyler, none of those things apply. You linked back to his site and I only saw his name on the posts. I’m upset about it because, if you were Tyler, I was funny as hell. Now, sadly, it’s just babble.
Drat the luck.
Also, it took me a long time to drink Obama’s Kool-aid. I was (and still am) a huge Biden fan and really hoped (hee hee) that his race wasn’t as hopeless as it seemed.
As to pyramids … I’m naturally allergic to that kind of pitch. Never, ever fallen for one, either as a customer or an “associate.”
The best advice my father ever gave to me is:
So, since you’re not Tyler (DAMNIT), ignore most of the stuff earlier that refers to posts on his blog. Except the U2 stuff. U2 is nearly a worship for me (except for Pop. What the hell was up with that album?)
Yeah, Tyler and I have discussed implementing a better way to distinguish his posts from mine.
“U2 is nearly a worship for me (except for Pop. What the hell was up with that album?)”
Bell, I’m liking you more and more. Pop was embarrassing. Especially compared to the albums on either side of it. Though I do remember Bono specifically thanking Utah fans at the SLC All That You Can’t Leave Behind concert for supporting them thru that dark period. Personally, though I’m an absolute completist, Pop is the only U2 album I have never purchased.
Now that’s me- I dare you to go to Tyler’s U2 laser show post and say “Pop sucked.”
Pop sucked … and I bought it anyway. It’s still in its plastic wrapper, too.
It’s not necessary to “drink the kool-aid” (I can’t wait for that phrase to work it’s way out of the lexicon… overuse!) in order to recognize the opportunity Obama creates for downticket Democrats and red state minority parties.
And you need a reason to vote for him? McCain, Barr… These aren’t enough? That’s a different kind of “kool-aid” all together. Waiting for the perfect candidate sounds nice on a t-shirt. It won’t do a think for the quality of the political climate.
I’m certainly noticing a trend with D. Sirmize. He likes to pick fights and then make friends. It’s an odd way to go about it, but maybe it works because he does it time and time again. It’s certainly not my style and, like D. Sirmize mentioned, we’re working on a way to better distinguish our content. Maybe he needs his own “About Me” page (although I did include him to point out that I have a guest blogger). Perhaps his own blog?
Currently, the easiest way (but perhaps not the most obvious) is to click on the category “Guest” or, better yet, the sub-category of Guest, “D. Sirmize”. This will pull up all of the posts he has authored since I invited him to anonymously guest blog at Desultory Thoughts. One of my favorite posts that he authored was one entitled “Cold. Refreshing. Healthful. It’s all about the Pop.” That post is light-hearted and funny, but when it comes to politics, D. is very opinionated, as you all know by now. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, I just wonder sometimes how people judge me (as a living, breathing human being with a real name) when I’m being mistaken for an anonymous blogger who can say things that they might not say if it weren’t for a pseudonym. How many times do people click on D. Sirmize to see what he’s all about only to go away with mixed signals based on reading my posts?
Misty, I’m sorry this comment (such as many of the comments on this post) has no relation to what you wrote about. I still don’t know who I’m voting for. I’ll continue to read up on both candidates and eventually have a stronger opinion about who will make the biggest difference for our country. I’ll add your feed to my Reader today so you can possibly have some influence.
JM Bell, I’m Tyler. Read the full U2 article and you’ll see that I praise U2-3D to no end at the bottom of that post. Part of my rant was that the Planetarium was just capitalizing on the success of U2-3D by resurrecting old technology and calling it the latest and greatest. I’m glad you and D. Sirmize could be friends in the end and that it was your disgust for “Pop” that brought you both together. It’s still one of my favorite albums, but I respect your opinion.
I like Pop … with a caveat. If I pretend it’s not U2. :)
I’m old enough that I bought War the day it came out and every U2 album since. I still can’t choose between October, Unforgettable Fire and Rattle and Hum for my favorite album. I think that Atomic Bomb is a really good mix of old U2 and Disco U2 and that made me get Pop on iTunes.
This was a lot of fun, though. I haven’t played in a comments thread like this since the last time Mark Towner went all crazy. This was more enjoyable.
BTW: I like your blog a lot. Especially the GUI. It’s a solid read.