Monday, July 30, 2007

Define "Politic"

Barak Obama bidding farewell to Emil Jones, President of the Illinois Senate

pol·i·tic(pol-i-tik)
adj.
1. Using or marked by prudence, expedience, and shrewdness; artful.
2. Using, displaying, or proceeding from policy; judicious: a politic decision.
3. Crafty; cunning.

I grew up in Chicago. I grew up a Democrat with Independent, Liberal overtones in Chicago. I was an activist, and a campaign worker for Democratic Congressman Abner J. Mikva who taught me a lot about what is right, and what is possible. I also grew up in a time when people actually debated issues and discussed, and still went into smoke-filled back-rooms to hammer out a compromise that wasn't perfect, but often worked.

Just back from a week in Chicago visiting my daughter, and my granddaughter - two evenings, when Ellie Bean was safely in bed, sitter at home, my daughter and I went out touring the city which has changed so much in the six years I've lived in Los Angeles. Mayor Richard M. Daley (the Younger) has turned the entire lakefront into a park - it is magnificent. And when I'm back there, away from blogging, safe in thoughts of my granddaughter and her perfect, immediate world, I look at things with a more politic eye.

Senator Barak Obama (D-IL)defines Politic for me. He grew up politically as an activist on the streets of Chicago, and he doesn't shy from compromise. This is not an endorsement of Obama, nor is it a criticism. I simply think he can get things done. He's one of several Democrats running for President who I think could get things done. And no, he's not perfect.

But he is a consensus-builder. He believes in bi-partisanship, and compromise, and pounding out a solution, and he gets things done. He is practical, and right now, we need practical.
Paul L. Williams, a lobbyist in Springfield and former state representative who is a supporter of Mr. Obama for the Democratic presidential nomination, characterized Mr. Obama’s attitude as, “O.K., that makes sense and sounds great, as I’d like to go to the moon, but right now I’ve only got enough gas to go this far.”

We want peace. We want an end to the destruction of our Constitution. We want so much, but perhaps we only have enough gas to go so far? We have a lot of work cut out for us, and we need to find a leader who is capable of building bridges and finding solutions. Is it Obama? Is it John Edwards? Is it Mike Gravel? I ask this in all seriousness. I want solutions. I want an end to the arrogance of greed that the present administration wields like a club, and I want decent, affordable health care for all US Citizens, and I want affordable housing for all US Citizens - how best to achieve this? I ask, in all seriousness. How best to get a POLITIC solution, how to find a solution?

(cross posted at The Sirens Chronicles)

10 comments:

Mariamariacuchita said...

I think he has potential...if he doesn't get sucked into the machine...but I thought Pelosi had potential too. I guess we all do until we throw it away.
Great post, jood.

WeezieLou said...

great, thoughtful post.

i'd personally like a clinton/obama ticket - after that, it'll be his time, but i don't think it's now. needs more serious experience.

a clinton/obama ticket has real dynamic possibilities.

SouthLoopScot said...

Glad you had a nice time here!

Obama is my choice. I'd like to see an Obama/Richards ticket myself.

Real_PHV_Mentarch said...

Great endorsement editorial, Jood - very well stated and explained!

Of course, as a Canadian, I must refrain from commenting on this subject ;-)

Larry said...

I would much rather see Obama or Edwards than Hillary anyday.

Lets hope he doesn't change like most of them do.

Peacechick Mary said...

I'm definitely leaning towards Obama and very far away from H. Clinton. As for experience, that is one thing that makes him more suitable to me - he hasn't been there long enough to be sickened by the dollar machine.

enigma4ever said...

Diva ...I just read this post over at Sirens and was struck how wonderful it is...and I even felt some twinges of hope reading it...wow...consensus building....we need to know what we need at this point...and embrace it....

I gave you an award over at Watergate Summer...a very special award....come on over to weekend posts...

LET'S TALK said...

Right now I like Obama, Clinton, Edwards, Richardson and Biden. If I had to go with my gut feeling, I would pick Clinton.

sumo said...

Great post...thought provoking. I believe in diplomacy...and Edwards leans that way...but I won't decide until much later on any of them.

The Future Was Yesterday said...

This was flat one hell of a post!! If more people took that approach, we'd be much further along.

I can't answer your question, quite honestly. But I will say this: The same stock market that the Reich Wing invests their money in, also holds the money of the Democrat's investments. Money knows no politics. Yours is just as good as mine. It would seem to stand to reason then, that the alleged "differences" between the two parties, is window dressing. I doubt either side is going to shoot their investments in the ass, until forced.