Reply #17: Ok...I Watched Obama, Edwards and Dan Abrams [View All]

[DrFunkenstein]

Maybe I drank too much kool-aid (or not enough), but I still stand by what I thought earlier. Although my immediate emotional reaction is with Edwards 100%, a 3 second pause allows me to see it as an obviously misleading attack.

Nowhere did Obama concede any ground to Reagan's policy legacy, and he managed to soften the hearts of many a conservative for giving some ground to their hero. One of the reasons I like Obama best is his ability to soften the hardened hearts of people on both sides of the fence (and some perched on top) in order to inspire them towards civil service and to help them understand that the government can play a positive role in their lives.

As a hardcore, Nation-reading liberal, I completely agree with Obama that Reagan was able to change the trajectory of the country and lift up peoples spirits.

Of course, Obama speaks of hope, whereas Reagan was merely optimistic. Cornel West has pointed out that there is a magnificent distinction between the two. Hope inspires people to action, optimism inspires lethargy (since everything will work out, one way or another).