Off in the distance, I heard a sound,
I paused and listened, but nothing was found,
The sound grew louder, and closer, and clear,
The voices of voters without any fear,
Saying crisply and loudly our future depends,
On seeing real vision, and embracing new ends
Once upon a time is now, but just for now; next week will be the future. A new president-elect will be elected, once upon a time, next Tuesday.
Gonzo Journalism might have an heir to Hunter S. Thompson in Matt Taibbi who, as Thompson did, writes for Rolling Stone. Taibbi’s style is his own but he has the ability to cut through the noise like few others. Amidst the fear and loathing that “rear their heads” during this election, we are at one of those extraordinary moments where the United States can realize its potential in new and different ways.
Taibbi’s observations about red states—likely—turning blue, offer an explanation of what is happening beyond the obvious disaffection with Republican economic policies. True, voters tend to vote their wallets, but that is only part of the picture. The historic “now” reveals global hunger for leadership. While the US is sometimes resented—even hated—for its success, when the US struggles, as it has under George W. Bush, the world suffers along with us. If we elect Obama, he will have an unprecedented opportunity to change the world in positive and uplifting fashion. Of course, John McCain will have the same opportunities, if he wins. But as Taibbi points out, Obama’s history and path to the presidency will give him particular advantages as he re-establishes the United States of America as the leader it should be, advancing the idea and practice of freedom in substantial and meaningful fashion.
I hope our friends on the right can embrace the evolution that would be an Obama presidency. Political orthodoxies, both liberal and conservative, get us stuck. So, too, Obama will have to be more than a traditional liberal in order to succeed. His ability to bring diverse constituencies together will have to expand and grow in order for him to realize greatness. He can be the next FDR or another Jimmy Carter. My bet is that we have nothing to fear but fear itself. Now, all it will take is for Barack to get elected, once upon a time.
http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/taibbiunbound/2008/10/from-the-issue-the-death-of-a.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Taibbi
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
LIVE FROM NEW YORK (actually a Starbucks in Queens) IT'S IRVSEYEVIEW!
Hello, again, everybody. Too much time has passed since our last entry so here's a short update.
The IrvsEyeView travel schedule became more active recently as I've been back and forth between NY and San Diego twice, in the last two weeks. We are taking care of a few family matters, each with a good outcome, so far. And we are busy getting ready for Election Day and working to build the business.
We head back to San Diego tomorrow and look forward to getting back on track with the blog. If you're new to IrvsEyeView, check out some of the older entries and let us know what you think.
More to come, soon.
The IrvsEyeView travel schedule became more active recently as I've been back and forth between NY and San Diego twice, in the last two weeks. We are taking care of a few family matters, each with a good outcome, so far. And we are busy getting ready for Election Day and working to build the business.
We head back to San Diego tomorrow and look forward to getting back on track with the blog. If you're new to IrvsEyeView, check out some of the older entries and let us know what you think.
More to come, soon.
Friday, October 10, 2008
An' Negativity Don't Pull You Through (Bob Dylan)
Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail —You may recognize those words as the title of one of Hunter S. Thompson’s signature contributions to Gonzo Journalism, written as he covered the 1972 presidential campaign. Too bad that it best describes the direction that the McCain campaign has taken the final weeks of this election. Check out this piece from Huffington Post. Even though our conservative friends may dismiss the source, read the substance and the quotes from respected Republicans who are appalled at the strategy McCain and Palin are using in a desperate effort to break through with voters who seem to recognize the bankruptcy (pun intended) of the GOP’s approach, except, of course, the "angry ones" eager to vent during the McCain-Palin rallies. The look and sound of the crowds, some calling for Obama’s destruction, should make any thinking and responsible supporter of the McCain-Palin ticket think again about the direction this is headed. Palin, unlike McCain, seems to encourage and enjoy the verbally violent responses that the crowds are eager to offer. McCain just looks uncomfortable, but apparently not uncomfortable enough to have his staff tone down the rhetoric and take the campaign in a more dignified direction.
The messages we are getting from the McCain camp encourage the "Us against Them" culture warfare that is all about attacking Obama as "other" or different. Among the canards circulating are that he's a Muslim, that he's a terrorist, and that his relationship with William Ayers is much more than it really is.
If this election ends with an Obama win and large gains for the Democrats in Congress, the McCain campaign's strategy will have contributed mightilly to the success of its opponent. All of those who have respect for Sen. McCain will find his legacy diminished by the hateful and divisive tone of the current campaign. Voters were not buying the "Maverick" pitch of just a week ago, and we now hear less and less of that overused and misunderstood word. Instead, the focus is now on "that one", his exotic name, past associations--however innocent--and his "liberalism".
If the McCain camp turns the tide and eventually wins there will be much written about how well going negative continues to succeed. Fortunately, however, voters seem to be rejecting the personal attacks. Probably because the economy, the war, and health care concerns, mean more than empty attacks coupled with appeals to the "base's" baser instincts. Leadership is about bringing out the best in people; demagogues do the opposite.
The messages we are getting from the McCain camp encourage the "Us against Them" culture warfare that is all about attacking Obama as "other" or different. Among the canards circulating are that he's a Muslim, that he's a terrorist, and that his relationship with William Ayers is much more than it really is.
If this election ends with an Obama win and large gains for the Democrats in Congress, the McCain campaign's strategy will have contributed mightilly to the success of its opponent. All of those who have respect for Sen. McCain will find his legacy diminished by the hateful and divisive tone of the current campaign. Voters were not buying the "Maverick" pitch of just a week ago, and we now hear less and less of that overused and misunderstood word. Instead, the focus is now on "that one", his exotic name, past associations--however innocent--and his "liberalism".
If the McCain camp turns the tide and eventually wins there will be much written about how well going negative continues to succeed. Fortunately, however, voters seem to be rejecting the personal attacks. Probably because the economy, the war, and health care concerns, mean more than empty attacks coupled with appeals to the "base's" baser instincts. Leadership is about bringing out the best in people; demagogues do the opposite.
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Week by Week
"That was the week that was; it's over, let it go."
Sung as sort of a jingle, those words were part of a 1960s era, weekly news satire program that started in Great Britain and then spawned a short-lived American version. Sometimes known as TW3, That Was The Week That Was lampooned politicians, more than a decade before the debut of Saturday Night Live.
Last week's failed bailout bill in Congress eventually passed after self-serving senators added a huge helping of pork. And then we had the highly anticipated, and widely watched, vice presidential debate. "That week", also brought us a net loss of more than 800 points, on the Dow. After all of that, letting last week "go" feels like a good thing to do. While TW3 was one of a kind, today's TV viewers can get more than a few good politically driven laughs from Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and the folks at SNL. SNL's "coverage" of the vice-presidential debate makes that often ridiculous spectacle seem comically sublime.
So as we let last week go, we need to keep laughing. But we cannot forget the serious business we face and our need as a nation to discern clearly how important our decision in next month's election will be, for years to come. So much is on the line. During these perilous times, our national "jokers" play an increasingly important role in determining our cultural consciousness and inject a dose of refreshing candor into the political process.
With another debate this week, and the likelihood of continuing volatility in the economy, my hope is that the desperate and personal tone of the McCain attack strategy will diminish. The only way that will happen--as unlikely as it seems--is if the Republican brain trust finds voters becoming angry and hostile to this approach. Based on the histories of McCain and Obama, the prospect of a civil, issues oriented campaign seemed possible, just a few weeks ago. Bringing Sarah Palin on board may have galvanized the Republican base, but it injected a level of culture warfare reminiscent of another time. Palin has livened things up but not really helped McCain in the polls. Thanks, in part, to the brilliant work of Tina Fey and her colleagues at SNL, Palin's presence is more punch line than presidential. Mostly, though, it reflects poorly on John McCain and the desperation driving his quest to become Commander in Chief.
We have just four weeks until election day. After four more TW3s, let's hope we're still laughing.
Sung as sort of a jingle, those words were part of a 1960s era, weekly news satire program that started in Great Britain and then spawned a short-lived American version. Sometimes known as TW3, That Was The Week That Was lampooned politicians, more than a decade before the debut of Saturday Night Live.
Last week's failed bailout bill in Congress eventually passed after self-serving senators added a huge helping of pork. And then we had the highly anticipated, and widely watched, vice presidential debate. "That week", also brought us a net loss of more than 800 points, on the Dow. After all of that, letting last week "go" feels like a good thing to do. While TW3 was one of a kind, today's TV viewers can get more than a few good politically driven laughs from Jon Stewart, Bill Maher, David Letterman, Jay Leno, and the folks at SNL. SNL's "coverage" of the vice-presidential debate makes that often ridiculous spectacle seem comically sublime.
So as we let last week go, we need to keep laughing. But we cannot forget the serious business we face and our need as a nation to discern clearly how important our decision in next month's election will be, for years to come. So much is on the line. During these perilous times, our national "jokers" play an increasingly important role in determining our cultural consciousness and inject a dose of refreshing candor into the political process.
With another debate this week, and the likelihood of continuing volatility in the economy, my hope is that the desperate and personal tone of the McCain attack strategy will diminish. The only way that will happen--as unlikely as it seems--is if the Republican brain trust finds voters becoming angry and hostile to this approach. Based on the histories of McCain and Obama, the prospect of a civil, issues oriented campaign seemed possible, just a few weeks ago. Bringing Sarah Palin on board may have galvanized the Republican base, but it injected a level of culture warfare reminiscent of another time. Palin has livened things up but not really helped McCain in the polls. Thanks, in part, to the brilliant work of Tina Fey and her colleagues at SNL, Palin's presence is more punch line than presidential. Mostly, though, it reflects poorly on John McCain and the desperation driving his quest to become Commander in Chief.
We have just four weeks until election day. After four more TW3s, let's hope we're still laughing.
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