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"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
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An election just like any other
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Race
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| Contributor | Scott³ |
| Last Edited | Scott³ Aug 19, 2008 08:05pm |
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| Category | Opinion |
| Media | Newspaper - Denver Post |
| News Date | Tuesday, August 19, 2008 04:00:00 AM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Denver Post.
An excerpt...
"There is a palpable unease within the Democratic Party. After all, why hasn't Barack Obama pulled away from John McCain in the polls?
Here we are with a struggling economy, an unpopular war, high gas prices, mortgage meltdown and an old coot with a wicked temper running for the Republicans. Shouldn't the urbane and unflappable Obama be ahead by at least 14 points? What is wrong with Americans?
Obama himself has questioned the wisdom of voters, wondering at a gathering in San Francisco why, with all our tribulations, voters do not cry, "Toss the bums out, we're starting from scratch, we're starting over."
If only it were so simple.
It's often said that loathing of an opposing candidate is not enough for victory. And aversion to George Bush is not, on its own, enough reason to spur a realignment of the electorate. This election, in fact, despite the fruitless attempts of Obama, is a traditional battle between the left and the right. It's about policy and, the worst distraction of all, politics.
Initially, Obama seemed unwilling to participate in this repugnant world. On the other side, the more aggressively political McCain has become, the more Republicans seem to believe they can actually win this thing.
Candidates, of course, should not take elections too personally. Any two generic nominees are likely to split the nation somewhere in half. Our fundamental attitudes about the world do not change simply because we're stuck with an incompetent president, a bad spot in the economy or a spiffy ad.
At some point, though, we need to hear where candidates stand on policy. This is where Obama struggles. Politics is about divisions.
The first sign of trouble was energy. As soon as gas prices approached $4 a gallon, Republicans, sensing real anger, demanded more domestic energy production. Democrats found themselves in a dangerous spot; as sentinels of Earth's well-being, they were unwilling to cede that more drilling sh |
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