"New Politics"? Hah.

It'll be fab.

What if I just bullshit and say I'm French Canadian? Would that do it? Or maybe I could trade in on all my skeletons. Come on, pick me, pick me!

I was going to vote for Obama. But then he got this logo. I thought he was a new politician who was going to do politics in a new way. Has there EVER been a politician who didn't have a logo? OK, maybe back 50 years ago, but in modern politics? Yeah, I didn't think so.

It's just, so, like, corporate. <shudder>

And then, that's not all. He got a SLOGAN! I know! I couldn't believe it either. That's when my faith really began to crack. It was all sound-bitey and ****, too. I thought he was anti-sound-bite? I thought he was all about nuance and shadings and really digging in to get at the truth of something. His slogan is five words. Five words!!

Oh and you know what really put the nail in the coffin for me? He's been campaigning. The guy has two little kids at home and two books out that anyone can read and a website with tons of information about him and articles, like, everywhere, but he has to go campaign? Why? Isn't that just pure old politics? All that hand-shaking and baby-kissing and photo ops -- give me a break.

I think I'll run for president in 2012. I'll make a website that lists everything that I would do as president and then just stay home and wait to be elected. My ideas are great, I don't need any of that old-style politics to win.

Y'all are invited to my inauguration. It'll be fab.

sozobe wrote:

I was going to vote for Obama. But then he got this logo. I thought he was a new politician who was going to do politics in a new way. Has there EVER been a politician who didn't have a logo? OK, maybe back 50 years ago, but in modern politics? Yeah, I didn't think so.

It's just, so, like, corporate. <shudder>

And then, that's not all. He got a SLOGAN! I know! I couldn't believe it either. That's when my faith really began to crack. It was all sound-bitey and ****, too. I thought he was anti-sound-bite? I thought he was all about nuance and shadings and really digging in to get at the truth of something. His slogan is five words. Five words!!

Oh and you know what really put the nail in the coffin for me? He's been campaigning. The guy has two little kids at home and two books out that anyone can read and a website with tons of information about him and articles, like, everywhere, but he has to go campaign? Why? Isn't that just pure old politics? All that hand-shaking and baby-kissing and photo ops -- give me a break.

I think I'll run for president in 2012. I'll make a website that lists everything that I would do as president and then just stay home and wait to be elected. My ideas are great, I don't need any of that old-style politics to win.

Y'all are invited to my inauguration. It'll be fab.

Oh wait, I get it...it's sarcasm!

Trouble is that the signs that Obama is nothing like the New Politician he claims to be have nothing to do with slogans, logos and kissing babies.

They have to do with:

His going back on a promise and principle to get as much money as he possibly can for his candidacy.

His bringing Washington Wisemen into his campaign, and throwing them under the bus the minute their inevitable ties create a rukus.

His adroit ability to play the race card while accusing his opponents of doing so.

His talent at lying.

The "New Politician" is not required to announce his or her candidacy and then sit back and wait for the votes to roll in. Actually, the "New Politician" is not, as Obama demonstrates, required to do anything different other than to lay claim to difference.

unfortunately , every politician who wants to get elected has to have "popular appeal" - whatever that means .
a politician who dares telling the truth doesn't have much of a chance of getting elected (example : never mention the word "taxes" unless you promise a tax decrease , no matter what) .
many/most people don't like hearing the truth imo .
politicians that speak like dentists : "you have rotten teeth and they'll have to come out" - don't have much of a chance of getting elected .
hbg

And I thought you were talking about George Bush.

Perhaps, but that's "Old School Politics" wherein getting elected is more important that principle.

hamburger wrote:

unfortunately , every politician who wants to get elected has to have "popular appeal" - whatever that means .
a politician who dares telling the truth doesn't have much of a chance of getting elected (example : never mention the word "taxes" unless you promise a tax decrease , no matter what) .
many/most people don't like hearing the truth imo .
politicians that speak like dentists : "you have rotten teeth and they'll have to come out" - don't have much of a chance of getting elected .
hbg

Perhaps, but that's "Old School Politics" wherein getting elected is more important that principle.

Whether or not he was sincere when he started out, it's clear that Obama has fallen squarely into the hubristic trap (helped set for him by sycophantic advisors) of believing that his election to the office is too important to allow little things like promises and principles get in the way. When he gets in office, then he can do all of the great things he's promised.