No, not Change of the Obama-esq variety (though I am all for that as everyone knows). This week IMHO marked some pretty big turning points in the political world.
One actually started last week with the votes in NC and Ind. After weeks of wright-mania, the voters delivered the message that, yes, they ARE more thoughtful than the media credits them to be. More thoughtful than I feared them to be really! After seeing how effective the Swift Boat attacks were in 2004, after watching the media devolve into shallowness I never thought possible, I had been going into this political season in constant apprehension over what would happen. Apathy seemed rampant and 30 second sound bites ruled. But I have been encouraged so far. the voting public saw through a lot of the crap being thrown at them. Not everyone of course, and I understand that. Still, it was a welcomed change.
Along those lines, I am sensing a change in the media too. I’d love to give all credit to bloggers of course, and surely many tenacious writers did spark this tide, but I think the media is no longer able to get away with supreme vapidity without criticism. Look at the uproar after the ABC debacle debate. At the moment it happened their colleagues on the TV couldn’t or didn’t criticize too vehemently out of respect (and, I am sure because they know they could have been just as guilty given the opportunity), but as time has passed that debate has been held up often as an example of the highlighting of meaningless political rhetoric and personal attacks. Yesterday Chris Matthews did not let a radio host get away with shallow spin! He exposed the hosts’ lack of actual *knowledge* on the subject rather than letting the guy just rant and repeat talking points. That was a first! Usually, talking heads from both sides of the debate are simply put up there and allowed to shout at each other with very little substance and the TV ‘moderator’ just lets it play out, or actually, eggs them on (entertainment value and all that) and the viewing audience learns nothing. I’d like to think that the media is getting it that we are NOT just turning on their shows for entertainment and are finally, perhaps, turning back towards the goal of education and information. Maybe. I hope. Ooh, hope and change…sorry, can’t help it 🙂
For those on my side of the political aisle who may have been feeling apprehensive about the divide in the party with this extended and divisive primary season, I think the tide changed there this week too. Two things accomplished that. Just as the media was sinking it’s teeth into Hillary’s West Virgina victory and they were getting themselves all wrapped up in the “hard working white uneducated blue collar voter” meme which would have just served to stir up more bad feelings, John Edwards sucked the air right out of that balloon. His endorsement of Obama switched the focus of the news cycles and everyone then started talking about unity. Both of their speeches in Michigan when they appeared together highlighted the Democratic Party as a whole – often mentioning Hillary and the positives she brings. Then, our own dear President did the best thing he could have done yesterday. He got into the fray himself by lobbing a verbal water balloon at Obama. Suddenly all the party leaders, including Hillary, were standing up to defend Obama. Now, this is all just great political theatrics, I know. And it’s a hoot to watch! But for a week which started out feeling as if it would be very fractured for the party, it has ended up feeling surprisingly united. THAT was a change that needed to happen.
Finally, the last one which I linked to yesterday. The Calif Supreme Court declaring the Prop 22 Marriage Amendment unconstitutional. I know I probably have a few readers who do not agree with me on this, but allow me a moment to revel in what I happen to think is a change that is long overdue. I remember when this initiative was presented every well. It had a lot to do with sparking my involvement in politics. Sportsboy was in pre-school and there was a lesbian couple who had their daughter there and the oldest daughter was SB’s age. We all got together throughout the year for birthday parties and I ended up walking in my first 3-day with one of the moms. In one of the newspaper articles debating Prop 22, this couple represented the same sex side. I knew that one of the mom’s had already battled cancer and they were just very concerned about how their family would be impacted if she lost her battle (she didn’t thankfully) and knowing them brought the situation “home” to me. Thought truthfully I have also always identified with people who are ostracized. I just never properly ‘fit in’ socially with my age group while in school and even beyond for awhile so I have empathy for people in that situation. I could *never* support anything that ‘lessens’ anyone and that is how I have always viewed the gay marriage issue. Prop 22 was the beginning of the end of my membership in the GOP 🙂 I know that there is a new battle on the horizon in CA as there is a group petitioning to write a *new* amendment, but I do know that change takes time. And patience. And dedication. And hope 🙂
Trees & Flowers & Birds! 
I heard the Bush speech and I did not hear him lob a verbal water balloon at Obama. It is amazing to me that Obama and was so fast to take it personally. When I heard the speech, my first thought was that he was talking about Jimmy Carter and his ridiculous trip to talk to Hamas.
Bush is totally correct on what he said. Even Hillary is of a similar mindset. You just can not expect to obtain positive results from talking with such extremists. Obama feels otherwise. He clearly said so in the debates and on his website. Even so, it was egotistical for him to assume that Bush was directing his general comment specifically at him, but I guess if the shoe fits . . .
Obama will hurt himself between now and November if he continues to be so reactionary. He came across looking a bit childish on this one.
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Calvin – I am going to start out by stating that I did NOT describe the details of the situation because I did NOT want to get into a debate over the topic of Hamas/Palenstine/Israel or Carter’s actions as I have been entirely too busy to follow that closely so please do NOT make assumptions on what I support or oppose OK?
However, Bush used the word “appeasement” which has *nothing* to do with what Obama has proposed or even with what Carter did. Talking is NOT appeasement. McCain followed up with more on that and then compared the whole situation to Neville Chamberlin – ridiculous!! Chamberlin WAS an appeaser – he handed over another country to Hitler!! The same McCain who has said that HE was open to speaking to Hamas under the right conditions is now equating a willingness to talk to appeasement? It’s the classic political technique to label opponents with an incendiary description and then repeat it over and over. Only in this case they don’t even seem to understand the meaning of the word. Also, people in the media and on the internet reacted to it as a poke at Obama long before Obama made any sort of statement. Given how John Kerry was so roundly criticized for not taking on the Swift Boaters in ’04, I am sure that the Obama campaign is more tuned in to defending itself more quickly this time around.
My larger point there was that I was happy to see the party rallying together 🙂
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I don’t presume to know what YOU think on the topic. I was not sure why you thought I did, so I reread my comment. I wrote “You just can not expect . . . ” but meant “One just can not expect . . .” Sorry for the bad word choice.
Based on your response, Obama should not have reacted the way he did. He should have responded to the media jumping to the conclusion that Bush was talking about him by saying something like, “Bush could not have meant me in his statement, because I would not appease and would advocate appeasement. . . ” He did not help his own situation by reacting the way he did. I think he had an opportunity and he missed it.
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Actually, looking back at the sequence of stories, McCain followed up with the Chamberlain reference and yet another mention of appeasement before Obama responded to anything. Once the ante was upped, Obama would have no choice (at least in Democrats eyes anyway) but to respond defensively. Pelosi and others actually responded before Obama because Obama had taken a day off from campaigning that day and was not readily available for comment whereas McCain had just finished his morning speech on his vision for 2013 and HE was asked to respond to the other Dem’s statements. A media-induced shit storm of grand proportions and everybody rose to the bait 🙂
Like I said, grand political theatrics which is fun to watch unfold!
And you are right, I did get hung up on the word “you”…this is hard debating you because I don’t know you IRL so I am unsure when to let something pass, or when I should clarify what I read as a perceived assumption. No worries though.
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“A media-induced shit storm of grand proportions and everybody rose to the bait.”
Well said!! I agree completely!
I also agree that it is fun to watch the theatrics, but only for a short while, after which it becomes pathetic.
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