What would make Obama better

Here's the choice as I see it: On the one hand you have Edwards who wants to improve peoples' lives by changing the way we approach particular problems. He has, on that score, laid out an incredibly detailed series of policy proposals--the sort lefty wonks have been wanting from political candidates for years. On the other hand you have Obama who wants to accomplish the equally radical task of changing our politics--from the way they're practiced in Washington to the way they're interpreted in the media. This is a non-trivial goal. And, though transforming our policies would affect our politics, and transforming our politics would affect our policies, etc, etc, the two presidencies would--as the candidates tell it--be remarkably different. Not an easy choice.

Except that, whereas Edwards has been very clear about how he'd try to make the changes he wants, Obama has not exactly laid out a clear vision of how one transforms our country's politics. It'd be one thing if he gave any indication of understanding what steps to take to do that. But "wouldn't it be nice" isn't quite enough when the task at hand is so large.

Comments

[NeoRealist]

I just made a post on whether the elected president would get assasinated..who do you think would be killed..Obama or Clinton?

[JimPortlandOR]

I think you've hit on my discomfort with Obama, Brian.

It is a bit too close to buying a Bush in a poke who squeals 'compassionate conservativism'.

I guess I really don't expect Obama to be anything less than a liberals liberal on some substantial list of issues/proposals of interest to progressives, but I am concerned that he won't be a force for initiating substantial change. More likely, small bore proposals as in Bill Clinton's second term, or what Hillary would likely do. I hope that Obama is more than Hillary plus Hope, but so far I don't see it.

[Neil the Ethical Werewolf]

I have absolutely no idea what Obama's mechanism for transforming American politics is supposed to be.

[Brian]

My thoughts in one sentence, Neil.