The Next Few Weeks Should Be Interesting
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Of the things I have recently learned, I would characterize several as "blinding glimpses of the obvious," that both President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney are smart enough to marry up, and that former President Bill Clinton knows how to hold a crowd far past the scheduled biological break.
Democrats ought to feel good about their convention. There were quite a few good speeches, highlighted by Michelle Obama's, and it seemed to me they conveyed the message of "we've done better than anyone could expect with the hand we were dealt in 2008."
I'm sure that having Bill Clinton as the key articulator of that position made a lot more folks tune in - though I thought it very interesting that when I went to review the Clinton remarks, his speech was not available on the Democratic National Convention official website. Strange.
This approach, in reality the only avenue available to the president, reminds me of one of my favorite stories of "advice."
The outgoing CEO of a big company tells his successor, "I left you three letters in the safe to open when times are tough." As they always do, times got tough, and the new CEO pulled out letter one. "Blame your predecessor," it said. Good advice - insufficient, though, as times again got tough. He pulled out letter two: "Blame your staff." But then times became tough again, and out came letter three: "Prepare three letters."
I thought the president's speech benefited from Clinton's setup. He was able to focus on the things his administration has accomplished and to forcefully hammer home his messages of "I didn't promise it would be easy, or quick, and we're all in this together." The latter point was made poignant by the inevitable contrasting of the multi-ethnic Democratic convention crowd with the generally monochrome one at the Republican convention.
I can't help but like listening to Bill Clinton. Those were damn good years. (I was a lot younger then, too, which colors my remembrance.) He knows how to make the wonkish interesting. And I like President Obama - and that he represents that America can accept people for who they are and not what they look like. Regardless of whose fault the financial meltdown was, the rebuilding task was daunting.
The bitter bickering that substituted for constructive debate we've endured during this administration gives me no confidence that either party really cares about America.
Whether or not we believe that the Democrats are the ones with plans to fix America, do we think they can execute them? Obama is no Bill Clinton when it comes to putting aside the anger and getting things done. But can we trust that Romney and the stone-throwing Republicans have the leadership skills and backbone to do the hard work either?
So, as one of the apparently small number of folks that have not made up their mind, the next seven weeks should be interesting as I wrestle through the angry rhetoric to find enough reason to let the president stay or let him go.
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In my Aug. 26 column on Lance Armstrong giving up his fight against the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, and the resultant cheering for the fall of a man many considered too arrogant, I mischaracterized the comments by USA Today columnist Christine Brennan. As it is so easy to do, I read what I wanted to hear into her comments, not what she was saying. As someone who has spent many years covering Lance, she, too, was disappointed to learn of his capitulation.
Sorry about that, Christine, and thanks for getting in touch.
Frank Daniels III, part owner of The Pilot and cousin of Pilot Publisher David Woronoff, is the community engagement editor of The Nashville Tennessean. Contact him at fdanielsiii@ tennessean.com.
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Comments
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
Still undecided? Part owner of The Pilot? Well I'll be darned, someone is actually thinking at The Pilot! Who would have guessed that?
OldPilot 8 months, 1 week ago
justpassingby2: If you really believe no one at The Pilot is actually thinking why would you waste your time reading the publication?
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
Perhaps there is a difference between being "undecided" and "I've not made up my mind". I believe that most everyone who has been paying any attention is at least leaning in one direction or another, subject to something that might cause them to change their mind between now and November. There are those on both sides who have completly decided who they will vote for and NOTHING that happens between now and then would cause them to change their mind. Fortunately, these people do not have the majority to elect their candidate. So it will be those of us who will continue to pay even closer attention that will elect a President and decide what course the country will take. At the moment, I'm not leaning toward the side that can only say, "Anybody But Obama".
The_AnonymusProfit 8 months, 1 week ago
I was ok until the monochrome comment, frank I don't no which convention you watched...but it certainly wasn't the RNC.
native 8 months, 1 week ago
Just give me something as your platform other than "anyone but Obama". I have received several letters from the Republican party. The message in every one was " help us get Obama out" and "oh by the way "send us some money". That is not a platform....
clarabelle 8 months, 1 week ago
republicans - the party of smaller government - unless you are gay or a pregnant woman.......
NO real solutions - just pray - and all will be well.............
fugitiveguy 8 months, 1 week ago
thats funny, if you google republican platform its all right there, but no "anyone but Obama"
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
Under normal circumstances, I would agree with those who say "give us more than 'anything but Obama.'" But these are unusual circumstances because of what he's done in four short years. In this case, the country's survival depends on "anyone but Obama."
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
geoffcutler, I feel your pain, as Bubba liked to say. Your party is in total disarray, your candidate continues, on a daily basis, to show his total lack of sound judgement, the only three people defending him are you, Limbaugh and Kristol (that puts you in some very questionable company). Today, even Fox News has to give you the bad news about the current pole numbers and we have not even got to the debates yet. If I were you, I would be scouting out a heavily wooded area of Canada, since you believe the country won't survive another four years. Oh, and Geoff, please don't take my comments personally. I know how you think everybody is out to attack you. I'm just trying to help you through this rough patch. And if you do have to move to Canada, well, shucks, I'll sure miss your rugged good looks and boy scout demeanor. Why, however will I be able to get things right without having you guide me in proper thinking and proper web site etiquette. Keep your chin up, bub, because it's no fun hitting a guy on the top of his head.
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
fugitiveguy, platforms are what the party says to get you to vote for them, not what they are actually going to do. Been following politics long? Now if the platform says what they plan on doing and explains HOW they are going to do it, explains how what they are going to do effects you and describes the benefits to the country, then you have got something worth considering.
JimRussell44 8 months, 1 week ago
boscoe50, I can't dispute your claims about correspondence with our Senators. I have never had the need to contact them personally. I base my satisfaction with the job they do by following how they vote on issues. Whenever an elected representative is not representing my voice, I cast my ballot for someone who I think will do a better job. I will say that I have added my voice to petitions organized by groups like AARP, so I have petitioned the representative that way on several occasions. It has been my experience that politicians enter politics with a preconceived agenda that represents specific interests. If you agree with it, you vote for that person. I don't believe individual voices calling or writing their representatives (at least not on the national political level) have any effect on that representatives agenda. Once into the political system, they only need us to keep them there. I would vote for the same representative for my entire life if that person continued to represent my voice. We all get frustrated by our political leaders from time to time. That is because they must represent everyone, not just ourselves.
Yukonjohn 8 months, 1 week ago
JR44, Holy Cow, you are on a roll tonight. We all know each others politics, but l have been watching the news tonight. It is VERY SCAREY. We are in a huge mess in northern Arfica. I shudder to have the President at the helm negotiating with the Moslem Brotherhood, and I am terrified if he blows it (which l think is a 50/50 proposition at best) if Romney/Ryan get it dumped in their lap in a couple of months. How many wars can we run at a time. And one never knows how large that war could end up being. I have spent a year deployed to Saudi Arabia back in the 70s and have been worried about having to fight that big one with all of Islam for years. God Bless us, we need it.
justpassingby2 8 months, 1 week ago
JimmyJer, is it possible you are just showing how hypocritical the left has become? You contradict yourself from one board to the next! The latest being you posted romney needs a platform on one board and here tell us platforms are just lies to get our vote! Your best (silliest, I can play nice) is still your posts of how screwed up Washington is but you want to give them even more power over the states. I guess your logic there is why should some states be so much better off than others, let Washington destroy them all. And we sure are glad you are not rushing to judgement on who you will vote for! Your posts should come with laugh track!
geoffcutler 8 months, 1 week ago
And the dripping condescension...whew!
AbdominalDohMan 8 months, 1 week ago
I stand by my prediction made on another article... Romney wins a slim majority of the popular vote but a substantial majority of the electoral college.
native 8 months, 1 week ago
Let,s get real. I believe that we all want the same thing and it is not what is being put out here on these comments. We all want a strong USA, with politicians who want what is best for the country,not how much wealth they can personally accumulate. (which seems to be the agenda for all who get elected). The only answer is term limits and we the people need to send people to Washington who will get this done.