Eugene Robinson: 'Primaries forcing us to figure out not just who the candidates are, but who we are

[bigtree]

Eugene Robinson
Washington Post
January 18, 2008


WASHINGTON - If it's any consolation, this is the hard part. When it comes time for the general election campaign, voters will be faced with a clear choice on the major issues. The primaries, meanwhile, are forcing us to figure out not just who the candidates are, but who we are as well.

{snip}

Obama, Clinton and Edwards are hardly fire-breathing radicals. Their positions on domestic issues are all comfortably in the Democratic mainstream. Internationally, all would seek to repair the damage to America's standing that Bush has done; none is likely to look for wars to start, but none is going to take Dennis Kucinich's recommendation to renounce war-making for all time.

What Democratic primary voters have to decide, as they cast their ballots, is not just how they view the candidates but how they view the moment.

After suffering through the infuriating Bush years, are Democrats ready to fight, as Edwards believes? Are they nostalgic for the Clinton era, which had its pluses and minuses but at least holds no mystery? Or are they ready to follow Obama on a promising new path, trusting that he knows the way?

Not easy.


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/opinion/left/orl-syn-rob0118,0,5138372.story

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. I'm ready for boldness

Go for Strength Through Peace.

Om shanti shanti shanti

[countryjake]

2. I'm ready to throw all the bums out!

Not a hard decision at all. I think most folk know very well who we, ourselves, are and we're quite aware how full of shit most politicians are, too.