Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Nostalgic Me

I have no idea when I became addicted to politics, seems like it's just always been there. I was taught those elected to office were elected to serve, with their first priority being for the good of the country and it's citizens. That was then and this is now.


I'm a real sucker for pomp and circumstance. Makes me feel proud to be an American when I watch it. I love all things related to the White House and all the history represented in that building.


These days though I'm keeping my focus on the Democrats. I'll let the Republicans take care of the inauguration and what comes afterward. Have to say I'd much rather be a Democrat today than a Republican. I'll gladly take the Democrats' problems over what the Republicans are facing. I listened to President Obama's farewell speech but to me it was no farewell speech, it was the first speech of a new commitment. 

I've been reading and watching what's going on with Democrats lately and am greatly encouraged. I've even come so far I can say this election might well have been just what the Democratic Party needed, a good jolt. 

I've settled down about Supreme Court appointments. It takes 60 votes to confirm a new judge which means the Republicans are going to have a hell of a time appointing a strong right wing judge. They don't have 60 senators for a party line vote.

Voting apathy is a huge problem in America, and Democrats biggest weakness. Whatever you think of Barack Obama the young people who worked with him are committed and loyal. They are beginning to give up their day jobs and come back together to join him in rebuilding the Party. He has said that after he takes Michelle on a nice vacation and gets his head around his writing projects he'll be ready to get to work on the future of the Party.

I smiled this week when I read this article about former staffers coming together to start a new media company. Jon Favreau was Obama's chief speechwriter for about eight years. These young people were severely shaken by the election and have banded together to save the Party. They're renewing their contacts across the country.

Obama has asked former attorney general Eric Holder and some others to take on the issue of gerrymandering and redistricting. The NYT had a good article about that issue. 

I just need to keep my eye on these happenings and block out a lot of the unpleasantness of the days to come.

The first amendment gives the president-elect freedom of speech. It also gives me the freedom not to listen to his speech. Until such time as it becomes apparent he has developed respect for the office he holds I'll be off listening to other voices. I have too much respect for the office of President, and too much self-respect, to listen to the vile things that some out of his mouth. He may not respect me but I respect myself enough not to subject myself to that behavior.

20 comments:

  1. >>He may not respect me but I respect myself enough not to subject myself to that behavior.<< Truth!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I find this handy from time to time in bad situations.

      Delete
  2. Aw, Linda, I don't know if this is the answer for me, but I am certainly looking for one. I am encouraged by your hope for the young people in the Democratic party, but I do still harbor some bitterness that they did not work harder for Mrs. Clinton.
    I think I will watch the inauguration ceremonies just because i always want my own first hand point of view. Media reports are often biased, and I like to think for myself.
    I am struggling with what to do with my anger and disgust over all that the president- elect is doing and saying and getting away with, and what it might mean for our country. But can I tune him out? I'm not sure.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Linda, I can certainly see why this would not be the answer for you. As you know, Hillary was not my personal choice. Also, while many from the Obama campaign days went on to work for Hillary's campaign others did not, still having some resentment toward her. As long as the Clintons held the stage there wasn't a lot could be done. Everything was on hold to see if Hillary was going to run again. I'm as devoted to Obama as you are to Hillary. I'm hopeful. Now about the Chief Tweeter. I do not intend to watch the inauguration and it is my hope I can avoid watching his speeches. I'm okay with reading about what he's said. I may get tripped up when there are national tragedies, but perhaps I can mute the sound when he speaks. Somehow I can't picture him as Chief Comforter to the nation.

      Delete
  3. Your first paragraph says it all. Politicians and parties are in it for themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was 12 when I became a political junkie--laying on the living room floor watching the conventions. I loved it back then, when we didn't know who the candidate would be until the last delegate vote was counted. "The great State of..........casts its 5 votes for.............". This last campaign has just about done me in. I have lost friends and has such nasty comments directed toward me on Face Book, from people I thought were friends, that it has saddened me greatly. Yes--this was a huge wake-up call for the Democratic party. They thought they had it in the bag only to find out, they don't really know the grass-roots part of society at all. Country people are quiet about their politics. They rarely put a political sign in their yard because we/they don't think it's anyone's business who they are voting for. But BAM, they do vote in droves and take their politics very seriously. Huge turn-out this year from them. Maybe this will help the Democratic party re-evaluate?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, I agree. The Democratic Party needed a good jolt. They allowed Hillary to hold the stage too long. I'd said all along that if Hillary won there would be a crisis in 2020. When would she leave the stage? There could be limited change in the Party as long as everything was on hold waiting to see what Hillary was going to do. The Clintons did a lot of good for the Party but they stayed too long.

      Delete
  5. I found several things in this post to be encouraged about---the fact that someone is going to work on gerrymandering, for one thing and the grassroots organizing for another.

    I disagree that the Democratic party is broken. Hillary got 3 million more popular votes than the president-elect and that was with all the leaked emails and shameful October surprise from the FBI that is now going to be under investigation. We will never know how much the Russians hacking influenced our election but they did influence it with all the fake news stories about Hillary paired with her having to run against a totally dishonest and lying candidate.

    I've been encouraged watching the hearings and knowing that so many of the people trump picked don't agree with Trump's voiced policies. I probably will watch the inauguration for the same reason Linda Reader above said...I want my own observations instead of being told what to think. He is starting out with the lowest approval rating of any president-elect---37% to an average of 67% and I am encouraged by that as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do not believe the Party is broken. I do believe it needs refreshing. It's very hard to know anything by this election because there was so much voting against rather than voting for. Personally I was not looking forward to 4 years with Hillary and all the investigations the Republicans were going to do. I just wished for a different candidate. My concern with the refreshing is it could go too far to the left. It won't happen because younger people are involved because Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren will be leading the pack. I enjoyed having a younger President. I wasn't looking forward to one 70 looking to be in office 8 years. That applies to Hillary, Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders. Please tell me there's someone younger out there.

      Delete
    2. Age discrimination? LOL All kidding aside it was nice having a young family in the White House but I could care less about age, sex or race as long as the person running the country is someone who I can respect. I do not respect our next president.

      Delete
  6. I, too, want to see a speaker, hear the words spoken myself -- all points of view. I am then particular about the news sources to which I listen and can more readily eliminate those weak in objective reporting or who practice fact-twisting -- important to know when considering the credibility of other news reports. I want two major political parties who are strong but not controlled by their extremists, yet have them present to contribute their ideas (a few of which might actually be good) as all voices in this nation need to be heard. We do need active young people but not overlook the fact some people are still quite mentally sharp well into their older years compared to those at their age fifty years or more ago.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joared, I think we had a splendid combination in Obama/Biden, youth and wisdom. Senator Dianne Feinstein is one of my favorite senators and she is 83. I'd like two healthy parties that realize it's not a sign of weakness to compromise. I get news from many sources,
      Left, right and in between. I've also been listening to some very interesting podcast interviews. Sometimes my opinion changes when I hear an interview. Politics is hard work but we have to keep working at it.

      Delete
  7. Not sure if you saw Obama's presentation of the Medal of Freedom, with Distinction to Joe Biden. Absolutely heartwarming. Biden is a model for the younger democrats to emulate. His tireless commitment to service in nothing short of amazing. Obama's presentation and Biden's response brought a tear to my eye.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wonderful presentation. Brought tears to my eyes. Obama/Biden perfect example of old mentoring young. I'd like to see more of that for Democrats. I'd never want to see the young walk away and ignore the experience and wisdom of the old. I just think it's time to recruit young to be mentored by old.

      Delete
  8. Politics to me is an obligation I take seriously but is certainly not a passion and seldom a pleasure. I am hoping that some of the passion of the youth this time--that sadly didn't fully translate into votes--becomes more of a passion all the way to the voting booths. They are our hope.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Democrats' bench is pretty empty now. No one made a move as long as Hillary was a possibility for presidential candidate. No doubt there are good ones out there. I believe we'll begin to see heads pop up soon. There's much work to be done.

      Delete
  9. Kamala Harris, newest Senator from CA. Keep an eye on her.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Absolutely! Also Representative Pramila Jayapal from Washington state.

      Delete
  10. Please keep sending out these reflections on the state of today's political world. You're providing important information and a valuable perspective.

    ReplyDelete