Every generation needs a new revolution

Can anyone truly doubt that what we're witnessing in America is a generational revolution? I'm so excited to be right here, right now at this moment as we dispense with the tired, old politics of the Clintons, McCain and the Washington establishment. Call me an idealist, go ahead, do it! Cause I'm not afraid, and I'm not alone in my idealism. Together, millions of us, we're going to pick America up, shake off the shame and dirt that Bush and Co. have heaped on us in the last eight years, and stretch, towards a brighter, more prosperous future for all of us.

Barack Obama, for the first time in my life, represents a superior candidate, one that fuels my imagination and aspirations. He is a leader, because he doesn't make it about Barack Obama -- he makes it about us. Our dreams. Our power.

Comments

[Duff OMelia]

Obie,

I'm surprised that folks really think there's a difference between Barrack and the other candidates. I'm surprised because in my view, he's more of the same. Both Republicans and Democrats have been doing the same thing for decades -> growing the federal government. They both make the government bigger and more powerful. Barrack will be no different in this respect.

As the federal government increases, our freedom vanishes. In my opinion, a real revolution would be when our legislators actually followed the rule of law (the US Constitution). Right now, no one seems to think that the 10th Amendment exists.

[David Madden]

As an outsider in the UK can someone please explain to me how Bush got re-elected, and what is going to stop McCain getting elected this time?

[Obie Fernandez]

@Duff: I guess you vote Libertarian then? Cause the Republican party dropped those principles a while ago. The reason that the 10th amendment hardly ever comes into play is due to the Commerce Clause. According to Wikipedia: "The Commerce Clause has been cited in many cases that have allowed the federal government to limit what were previously considered rights *reserved to the States respectively or to the people*."

I lean Libertarian most of the time, but since I don't see the Commerce Clause going away anytime soon, I figure we might as well make the best of an otherwise crappy situation. Ushering out the disgusting, corrupt G.O.P and bringing sense and accountability into the executive branch is a good first step.

[Obie Fernandez]

@David In my opinion, Bush got re-elected because Kerry was a weak candidate, who was extremely ineffective with the large, rural, conservative population of America, that is largely under-educated and easily influenced by the corporatist mainstream media.

Obama's popular movement, attractiveness as a candidate and fundraising is a juggernaut orders of magnitude larger than Kerry's in 2004. I think current polling severely underestimates his advantages over McCain in November and it's going to be a landslide Democratic victory.

[David Madden]

Thanks for the conclusive reply Obie.

One other thing: Is there a risk of democrats losing ground the longer the candidate race continues. From a republican point of view they have their candidate and can all back him and canvas with one focus.

Is there a risk of the democrats confusing and alienating fringe voters the longer Obama and Clinton fight each other rather than McCain.

[Matt Platte]

My Uncle Walt used to jokingly say about the vegetable garden, that we need to "pull out the larger plants so the little ones have a better chance."

One should always keep in mind that there is a class of political "gardeners" collectively called mainstream media and augmented by groups such as the Democratic Leadership Caucus et al, who put Uncle Walt's prescription into practice. Remember that Howard Dean fella?

Here's hoping that Obama is now too large and too well rooted to be pulled out so easily.

[Paul Barry]

+1

[Nathan Leach]

Obie,

Come on, man! Obama is just more of the same. You don't get to be a serious contender in presidential elections these days without already being tied into the "establishment".

Every election is a battle of the dubs...a race to pick the lessor of two evils. It will take a true revolution to inspire any but the most optimistic (or perhaps naive) of us.

I admire your positive outlook, but I caution you to prepare for the worst. Obama will not change anything and will probably make matters worse, just like most of those that came before him.

[Raymond Brigleb]

Thanks for posting that, Obie. I agree one hundred percent!

[Ryan Platte]

Obie,

What does Obama offer except youth, vague talk, being non-white (which is a FANTASTIC step, don't get me wrong, but as he points out, irrelevant), and good looks? What is there about him that isn't superficial? How is he one iota different from standard Washington in substance? How is he more accountable than anyone else?

If he's not, let's spend our vote on someone who is! If he is, please reply with recommended reading that will correct me.

[Clayton]

I'm 25 and very not excited about even the possibility of Obama becoming president. I would hardly call him revolutionary either, his policies are essentially the same as Clinton's and many other left-leaning liberals. If he's elected it's going to be a revolutionary time for tax increases, wealth redistribution, "fairness" and an even more messed up Iraq (which is getting better and better each day).

BTW, I love _The Rails Way_ it's been instrumental in helping me learn more about ruby and rails. Thanks so much for an awesome book!

[Bob Aman]

Let's not make Obama out to be something he's not. He's still a politician. A very skilled politician. Almost by definition, that makes him manipulative.

But with that out of the way, I don't really have a real problem with Obama or the majority of his policies. He can't help but be a better president than Bush, and on the occasions that he makes mistakes, I suspect he'll be transparent about them, and start talking about how they'll be fixed and avoided in the future. He strikes me as earnest and genuine, even during those moments when it's obvious he's being manipulative. I really don't think he's in it for ego or personal prestige, which is a refreshing change of pace. And certainly, he has run a better campaign than almost anyone else. Ever.

I voted for him in the New York primary, and I'll be voting for him again in November.

All that said, I worry a great deal about Obama's supporters. They're becoming an echo chamber of sorts. Once Obama is president, he's going to make some errors in judgment. That's inevitable, no matter how good his judgment may be. I'd be very sad to see American's losing their objectivity, and by extension, their ability to criticize that which requires criticism. Obama can take it. He doesn't need people making excuses for him.

Speaking as an Obama supporter, the Wright scandal deserved criticism. Michele-gate was a serious issue (although personal attacks, as always, are over-the-line). Obama deserved scrutiny over his associations with Rezko and old Weather Underground members. Obama should not be receiving a free pass on account of being inspirational.

[tim]

Can't I just finish my waffles?

[Kenneth]

So here is the problem. Relying on any politician

Obie is a successful guy so its ok for him to think fondly of a politican delivering "Dreams" and "Power". However, think of the millions of Americans working in fast food who are following Barack as if he's going to deliver some sort of salvation for them.

Sorry, its all bunk. If you want to fulfill "Dreams" and "Power", you have to work hard at it, but you can do it yourself. Build a business. Join an organization. Don't try to change the world. Try to change your immediate surroundings.

On the other hand, lets play an imagination game:
- Barack wins reelection
- Gets the troops out of Iraq which somehow manages to eliminate the threat of terrorism at home.
- Passes sweeping new government programs like Healthcare and somehow manages to do it without raising taxes.

Will you be better off? What if you spent your time doing good at work and getting a 10% raise. That alone would pay for your own health care, with one of the top plans.

Point is, its a disservice to people to talk about dreams and hopes when talking about politics. Government is about operations and mechanics, not transforming people's lives.

[Rafael]

Don't know if anyone cares, but I'm willing to give a foreigner point of view on USA politics. I'm brazilian, and I can say that most of us think that Obama is a better choice than Clinton, not because we think he will change everything, but he seems to care more about the USA as a country, ratter than a empire, which is how many of us non-north-americans view the USA.

The comments I've read gave me the impression that most of you really think that the individual freedom and power is the only goal to achieve in life, that this is the way for everybody to make a better world for themselves, as if everyone was an island.

Even though I understand and appreciate the power of the self, I really don't think that's the better way to live in a society so dis functional as ours. I believe that a better society will arise the moment we stop thinking only about ourselves and start thinking about our community, and nowadays it means thinking of the world as whole, not only about each country.

Unfortunately, in the current situation the State is the only power that can diminish the differences between men, distribute wealth, care about those who can't change their lives on their own. The State is not good or evil by definition, it depends on those who are in charge of it.

But then, that's a foreigner's point of view, and I don't believe many of you, if any, will agree. Again, hope Obama wins.

Thanks Obie, really like your blog.

[Justin]

There is no room for real world politics in web development and archeticture. I don't come to your blog to hear your "hash" talk, I come for the "rocket" banter... :/

[FlyboyArt]

Please Obie, stick to Rails/Ruby and development issues. When you make a political statement, you are bound to get people who agree and people who don't. It's nice for you have an opinion about the candidates however it will drive some of us to go elsewhere for our fix for Rails/Ruby. If I want to hear about politics, I'll watch Fox Snooze or read the newspapers. Please keep to the subject for the benefit of your loyal readers. For the record (as long you brought it up) Ron Paul is the right man for the job of President. All three of the other candidates will do nothing to get us out of the wars we're in or the economic collapse we are heading for.

[Sam]

A true revolution would be a restoration of the Republic we once were. The popularization of "democracy" in American history has weakened the principles we hold most dear and it's tearing us apart. Spreading power around does not necessarily make it "right." Many mainstream Germans, although uncomfortable with the extremes of Nazism, still hated Jews and wanted their power broken in Europe. And they got what they wanted. Does the fact that they wanted that make it right? No, it does not. Millions of people can be wrong. The American Republic was based upon principles....not on power spread to every person. Democracy failed a long time ago. Our founders knew this. The President is not even elected by the popular vote!:

"Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

[Matt]

Obama is certainly the right choice if you want to see revolutionary tax raises, a return to an insecure America that is willing to negotiate with terrorists and terrorist nations, and an America that is subserviant to the United Nations. As a small business owner yourself, I'm surprised to see you supporting the candidate that will surely make it more difficult to own a business in America.