Reply #34: He acknowledged that the American people ARE

[OneGrassRoot]

suspicious and now see this administration is incompetent....though for us it took wayyyyyy too long.

The point he made which hit me hardest was this:

"And I firmly believe that whenever we exaggerate or demonize, or oversimplify or overstate our case, we lose. Whenever we dumb down the political debate, we lose. A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate."


While those of us who research and read and are privy to more behind-the-scenes crap than the average citizen DO feel/know BushCo is evil and not simply incompetent, the average citizen - which, I believe, is Obama's point - doesn't see it that way. For various reasons...largely ignorance (though we as individuals must at some point take responsibility for that ignorance)....the average citizen doesn't see how deep the corruption runs in this White House. Hopefully Fitzgerald will expose that for all to see. And after the Katrina fiasco, I believe the average citizen will be more WILLING to see it finally.

However, until such time, the RW Republicans have indeed simplified their approach to the world, at least in terms of how they function. "You're either with us or against us" type of rhetoric. But that appeals to a large segment of this country who can't or won't THINK for themselves. It's a "duh" moment on my part, but after reading this commentary by Obama, I see more clearly that it's that black-and-white approach to politics versus the Dem's more gray-area approach that is a huge issue in reaching the citizens. Hopefully the American people are starting to see that the good ole boy, black-and-white approach has failed. It has resulted in loss of life...loss of so much.....loss of the vision of America many of us have been proud of. Perhaps, just perhaps, they will be ready to listen and realize that in the world of adults, just as in the world of government, things are rarely black and white and require much more planning and hard work and working together. It requires thought and consideration of all levels of society, and a willingness to be part of the world community.

I don't believe Dems should take shit lying down, yet when we/they resort to simplifying Bushco as evil and everything else we know is TRUE, until something huge like Watergate comes out that exposes the depth of the corruption, the average citizen shuts down and doesn't listen to either side. They just hear both sides saying the other sucks. I don't know that I'd be able to be "political" and not shout from the rooftops that these people are murderers and why the fuck can't all you people see that?!!!! Yet, I know that wouldn't be effective in today's climate....it's getting close....but without something following up on Katrina's heels to expose these thugs more, the average person can't, and/or won't, open up to the possibility of how bad things really are.

I don't know how the Dems are gonna do it, but I do believe Obama speaks logically and thoughtfully here, and is on to something.