He’s sitting in his foreclosed home talking to a soldier friend in Iraq as someone upstairs tries to hang himself as the stock market tanks, a hurricane hits someone buzzing the door outside, and someone helping him move can’t afford pain killers for his broken arm. The soldier asks, “Wassup?” He looks at the TV and sees Barack and Michelle Obama at the convention, smiles and says, “Change”
Some fear Obama will be just another Tony Blair, the great progressive hope who turned out to be anything but. An Obama presidency will mark the end of the neocon agenda and the return of a belief in science as well as rationality to the White House. He is not an ideologue. As for the sky-high hopes, yeah, the country is ready for change. And I believe we will get it. The partying in the streets on Nov. 4 won’t just be Democrats in the US. The whole world is watching and hoping about this election too.
I think you’re overestimating the effect a President has on society. The neo-con agenda didn’t start with Bush and it won’t end with him. The rabid Christian Right won’t fade away just because the opponent won the White House– in fact it may well energize them. They seem to need someone to hate. And divisive politics continue on both (so-called) Left and (so-called) Right. Indeed, the attitude of the (so-called) Left toward rural Bush supporters may guarantee a continuation of this destructive trend.
It’d be nice if people on both sides would reach across the aisle and acknowledge that the other guy (and gal) has valid fears and interests that have not been addressed. But I don’t see that happening, not on either side.
The neocon movement started in about 1968. It culminated with Bush. With him and the rest gone, the neocons will no longer have anyone in power. The Republican Party will (heck, already is) fracturing over who will be in control.
Do you think major neocons William Kristol or karl Rove be will quoted much or be on talk shows a lot after Obama wins? I doubt it. No one will much care anymore what they think. Nor will they have much in the way of political support.
I think Andrew Sullivan is right. It will take the Republicans years to recover from this defeat.
Sure, the rabid Christian Right will always be there. But they won’t be in the White House anymore. And that will make all the difference in the world.