I guess Obama is smarter and tougher than I gave him credit for.
When Obama chose to address the mega fundy forum (I forget exact name of event) several months ago, there was plenty of blogosphere speculation as to the wisdom of that. Regardless, the event's organizers were among most vocal in the fundy, GWB supporting, political arena.
That this type of(eg: Allen) article should be expected... over & over, relentlessly... seems to me a given. That authors of such screeds come from the fundy base... also a given.
This bunch, AFAIC, are not representative of Christians, and have hijacked their religious forums as a vehicle mobilize all kinds of whacko agendas. Schiavo, "strict constructionist" judges (eg: anti abortion), apocalyptic motivated support for Israel's hardliners and GWB's Iraq/ME adventure... it's a long, long list.
These guys are no more religious than was the Christian invoking KKK. They are a cult, they're nuts, and they're destructive.
That Oboma chose a path to try and "reason" with 'em... find common ground, does not strike me as any more "smart" than dems post 2k election weak kneed attempts to do the same with GWB & co.
Obama has appeal. He may be the most gifted orator from any party since JFK. However, for me, he has much to prove and has until this point exhibited naivite (to put it gently) as to just what kind of cabal the next dem prez candidate is up against.
Kerry did the same last time around, and we know how that ended.
So far, I'm not really taken w/any of the "hopefuls". I would've quit my job to work for Feingold, but he's out. I'd do the same for Gore or Dean. I might do it for Wesley Clark.
With Obama, I'd just be crossing my fingers.
I think he knows EXACTLY what he will face. As he says, we need to compromise WITHOUT compromising our values.
I think he knows EXACTLY what he will face.
That's not my impression. I hope I'm wrong.
As he says, we need to compromise WITHOUT compromising our values.
... a quote which, IMO, typififes Obama at this point: sounds "stately", warms the cockles desiring peaceful coexistence, but entirely lacks specificity.
Compromise whith fundies... how? On what?
Personally, I'm hoping for Gore/Dean/Feingold (I know it's a long shot) because they are unequivocal in rejecting the rw extremists. I would include AIPAC/AEI in that group myself, and like to see a dem candidate publicly & thoroughly reject 'em all, citing precisely why.
Chris Floyd has book review/commentary today on new book by ex NYT reporter (Chris Hedges: fired for questioning NYT's pre Iraq invasion reporting) on extremism of the X'stian right, titled:
American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War On America
Floyd's post is here . This short synopsis is very consistent w/my experience of the fundies. In particular, Floyd's quote describing means by which these guys achieve leadership of (my words) "blind leading blind" is right on the money.
It also supports my personal opinion these guys, also, are (literally) nuts... crazy. Among other things, that means unreliable and unpredictable. You just don't compromise on principle w/such folks.
Iam not saying obama is my prefered candidate.Iam a russ and gore man myself,but at least obama had enough sense to be against the war with iraq from the begginning.that took courage and wisdome,it took leadership instead of followship.
