Electability
This is not a political blog, but if you take a moment to watch these two speeches, I think it's very difficult to argue that Obama is less electable than his opponent.
One thing worth nothing in the aftermath of this: It's interesting to listen to the way Clinton and Obama talk about moderate Republicans. Clinton teases them (as having "seen the light"); Obama welcomes them without chastising them.
posted by John Green @ Friday, January 04, 2008
37 Comments
37 Comments:
I'm ready to vote for him right now!!!!!
Obama will bring change, and inspire it!
She kind of makes my skin crawl.
I was very glad about last night. However, I was kind of hoping Edwards would beat Hillary by more than he did.
I was wondering how she was going to spin losing.
WOO!!!
Yes, Hillary, let's take the enthusiasm (for other candidates) and go right to New Hampshire. Ugh. I can't stand this woman.
Obama has passion and excitement in his voice every time he speaks. He has the ability to transfer that passion and excitement to the crowd. While Clinton doesn't have that or the ability to transfer it.
noting*?
Well, there's no one to convince here, but I'll leave my two cents anyway...
We were just talking about the criticism of Obama being too immature and inexperienced to handle foreign policy, but lately I think Clinton has come off a bit rude and condescending. I'll take inexperienced over rude any day.
I want to be an isolationist! How do we build jobs in the U.S.? We complain about the cost of labor having driven jobs out of or country, but I think it's more environmentally driven. At some point, we didn't want the awful by-products and waste from "Industry" in our country, but we still wanted the products. Now is the time -- how do we make good, solid, environmentally responsible stuff or services and pay a living wage to do it? Education is the key!
Sandy
When he finished on "we're not red states and blue states but the United States of America", I cheered along, forgetting for a moment that I am not part of this country. His speeches alone make me think of those of Churchill, some of which contain my favourite quotations of all time.
I find Obama inspiring, more than competent, ready and generally fantastic, I really hope he wins. The contrast between the two Democrat candidates is also remarkable and does make me feel slightly nervous about the prospect of a Hillary win.
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Thank you for putting up both speeches, but I really had to force myself to finish watching Clinton's.
Anyone else wonder why the people standing behind her don't see right through what she says?
I totally agree. And the great thing about this election for me, and what's reflected in your post, is how we have both a woman and black candidate and no one's making a big deal out of it.
It's amazing when you consider how it wasn't until 1870 that blacks could vote:
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude."
And even then, it wasn't till 1920 that women could vote.
So it took us 144 years to give the vote to women, and yet only 87 years later we have a woman senator as one of the top contenders for president.
That's something to feel good about, no matter who wins.
P.S.
Anyone know of any good anagrams for the candidates?
Yeah, I kinda* hate her. Ugh. Obama is so much better. Well, she's not even good. But yeah, Obama>Hillary. Although I am also sort of interested in Ron Paul.
*really
And did anyone else notice how she had a totally unnecessary plug for a book of hers. She could have said what she was going to say without it, but nope, she just had to get that in there.
This is a copy of a comment I posted to the Nerdfighter Ning. I thought readers here might like the story as well:
Since you brought up Senator Clinton in your blog, I thought I'd tell my Iowa Caucus story.
We crammed into the local alternative high school commons room and ended up with about twice as many democrats than were expected. As you all may know, each candidate must have at least 15% of the number of people at each caucus site supporting them in order to be considered 'viable' and eligible for delegates to the state convention (which is a formality).
At my caucus there were 350+ people, which meant that about 52 people were needed to make the 15%. CLINTON DID NOT MAKE THE CUT IN MY CAUCUS!! They had 46 and the Obama group was upwards of 160. We were all pretty shocked. They came short by six. So, that meant that NO votes from my caucus would count toward Hilary, since she didn't make the requisite minimum.
The other arcane rule of the Iowa Caucuses, though, is that once the preliminary count is made, people can realign their support, which is where the use of 'caucus' as a verb comes into play. After lots of talking and persuading and moving around the room of almost 400 people, the Clinton group convinced 8 Kucinich supporters to go their way. So, she ended up with one of our 7 delegates.
But, for a while there her camp looked pretty forlorn.
When I got to school yesterday morning, nearly everyone I talked to had a similar story: that the Obama group at each caucus site was way bigger than the Clinton supporters' group. In fact, I'm pretty sure that if the Iowa caucus process was simply a vote count rather than a proportional system of selecting delegates, she would have been beat by a much larger margin.
That is really not how I think the Clinton campaign thought it would go.
Not to bring on the ire prematurely, but I'm a huge fan of yours. I won't say I'm your biggest fan; I’m sure that has to get annoying. I'm also sure there's someone out there who's way more John Green-obsessed than I am.
Anyway.
Two reasons for this post: 1)I agree with you completely about Obama being by far Clinton's superior. Clinton, to put it nicely, just needs to get over herself. 2)Though it’s completely beside the point, I am a young writer looking for tips. (Like you haven’t heard that one before, right?)
I am working on a few different books right now - one of them is fantasy, but I’m failing to stay motivated on that one. Another, my personal favorite, is about a teenage girl dealing with the loss of her father by fixing up her troubled friend’s life - that one is progressing nicely. And then there is the story of my own life, only interesting.
I’d appreciate any advice you could give me - to quote one, sort-of two, of your characters, I’m trying to “do something” here. And as I’m only decently smart, not a genius or a child prodigy, writing is the only way I know how.
Andrea
"That together ordinary people can do extraordinary things." Sounds like Obama may be a nerdfighter.
Thanks for the inside view, Ms. Hofmockel.
And for Andrea, who asked for writing tips, here's a quick list of the most helpful books I've found.
on being a writer
The Courage to Write - Ralph Keyes
Bird by Bird - Ann Lamott
the craft
Crafting Stories for Children – Nancy Lamb (best all-round intro to fiction)
Make Your Words Work – Gary Provost
Techniques of the Selling Writer – Dwight Swain (best all-round in-depth coverage)
Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Renni Browne
more favorites
On Writing – Stephen King
Telling Lies for Fun and Profit – Lawrence Block
Lessons from a Lifetime of Writing – David Morrell
Look up interviews with your favorite authors to learn their writing schedules, how they deal with doubt, etc. For instance, since you like Stephanie Meyer, you’ve probably seen the list of interviews under the bio on her website.
In the same way, when I first heard of John’s books and wanted to know more, I found the site below, which has a whole list of his interviews.
http://blaine.org/sevenimpossiblethings/?p=583
Since you're into fantasy, check out Holly Lisle’s site, which has a full book of advice.
And finally, never spend more time reading about writing than writing. Like playing the guitar, the only way to get better, and the real enjoyment, lies in the playing itself.
Hey, thanks. I'll be sure to check those out.
Obama's win in Iowa seemed kind of like a paradigm shift for the country. We are so over Bush...
I'm writing here because I want to personally thank you for giving my family so much joy!! Joy is an oft neglected emotion, but probably the most life-affirming...
Okay, now I'm out of your life! Good Luck!
WAIT, WAIT..one more thing(s)
“To give pleasure to a single heart by a single act is better than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
Mahatma Gandhi (1869 – 1948) Indian nationalist leader and philosopher
http://www.lovequotescollection.com/category/joy/2.html
Note: The following Canadian comment shall eschew all politics. *g*
...I only read this blog casually until the end of Brotherhood 2.o. Now I find myself reading through the archives like some sort of junkie, or like someone desperately trying to avoid finishing the first draft of her novel. John, your blog no longer distracts only you from writing. Things are escalating. *cue ominous music*
I love Obama's speech. When he speaks about hope, he makes me believe in what he is saying and, as you have stated before, kind of makes me believe in America again and what we are capable of. I am SO ready to vote for him on Feb 5in my primary, and my desire for him to be my next president grows every time I hear him speak--because of the fact that I DO believe what he is saying, instead of just hearing lies, corruption, and an overall jaded-ness, as when I hear Hillary Clinton. As someone who has always considered myself a Republican, mainly because of my conservative social views, his desire to put aside the bitter battle between red and blue states makes me believe that we can collectively accomplish something great, with him as our leader.
Anywho, Obama FTW. DFTBA.
I've been on the fence for a while. I like Hillary's experience and most of her positions, I think Edwards is well-intentioned, and I think Obama is charismatic and noble.
And in the most recent debate in New Hampshire, I became an Obama convert, 100%. He's got a whole "new Camelot" thing about him, and it's just wonderful to hear someone who can really speak and speak well, and without demeaning others (thus far).
What are your arguments against John Edwards? Not trying to start a riot, just need some info.
I'm Canadain, but I can see why you like him John. I'm pretty sure my American Uncle is voting for him.
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Obama is a better speaker, by far, than Clinton. I think that the New Hampshire debates were interesting though - I really felt that Obama came off naive, which really surprised me.
I am still leaning towards Edwards though -
I think it goes to show that Obama welcomes the challenge to unite Republicans and Democrats to drive further toward "change"... while Hillary shows the same old bi-partisan thought process that will never meet in the middle and end in dead lock.
John, I thought you would enjoy this very intelligent article on why the country needs Obama.
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200712/obama
A part of me just wants to vote for Hilary to see Bill Clinton as first lady. :)
I think the crowd behind them proves who is the better candidate....
You have Obama....Who has ordinary looking people. Young and old, from what appears to be every income...
And Hillary...who seems to only have middle/upper class old people....
So who would you want?
andrea,
A couple of good books about writing are:
The Art of Fiction, by John Gardner.
Techniques of Fiction, by Leon Surmelian.
Poetics, by Aristotle
Stephen King's book boils down to one statement: the adverb is not your friend.
Unfortunately for Obama supporters here, he hasn't got a chance to become president.
It's possible we'll have a nominating process that becomes a horse-race with a photo-finish at the nominating conventions of both parties.
But history says otherwise. We'll know the names of the two candidates after the Supre Tuesday primaries next month.
Hillary is still in the game. But whether Hillary or Obama is nominated, neither is headed to the White House.
Her past as member of the Rose Law firm and her willlingness to lie to the nation about her husband's antics will surface as major crippling issues.
She told the nation -- on national TV -- that her husband was not acting inappropriately with Monica.
She is either so contemptuous and disdainful of all Americans that she willfully lied to us -- OR she was too stupid to know what her husband had been doing.
Either way, she's not presidential material.
Obama? Where Hillary's professional and White House past is defined by corruption, Obama's is defined by nothing.
His mantra of "change" is meaningless. He has offerred no plans, no concrete goals. Only some soaring oratory that reminds me of Jerry Seinfeld's TV series -- A show about nothing.
If nominated, he might face John McCain. In that contest, Obama would lose in a landslide.
His muslim connection will sink him. He's already planted seeds for his defeat by claiming he'd pull US troops out of Iraq as soon as he's elected. That might sound appealing to many, but his position will cause an extraordinary backlash in November.
I know absolutely nothing about Ron Paul - in school today, I heard for the first time that he was even running - what's up with the lack of publicity?
I'd ask about him but I'm realizing it doesn't matter anyway since I am too young to have a say in the future of our country. (I get a bit caught up in the debates and forget sometimes that I can't even vote) Sucks to be under 18.
I think John nailed it at the end of this post. Obama simply thanked the swing-voters and moderate republicans. Hillary thanked them too, but could not resist the temptation to bash them at the same time. She simply does not get it and wil ALWAYS be a divisive figure.
My not-so-bold-prediction: If nominated, Hillary loses to McCain. If nominated, Obama wins. She simply will not get as many swing-voters or moderate republicans.
I agree with that prediction, and I'm fairly happy with it. I don't want to see McCain in office - frankly, I think he'll end up as disliked as Bush is - but I'd rather see him as president than Hillary. I think half of the people voting for her chose her simply because they want a female president and not because of her actual campaign.
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