The Audacity of Pragmatism
The left will continue to cry foul all summer, the further Obama distinguishes his politics from those of Dennis Kucinich. But certainly they know that a President Obama as eternal contrarian speaking truth to power would not only be unable to break bread with Republicans in Congress, but would also run afoul of most Democrats, who are more pragmatically minded than the coffeehouse frame of mind prefers.
Those reviling his recent positions are, unwittingly, wishing for his demise. Some Obama fans, one suspects, would almost savor that as an opportunity to go martyr, decrying how the evil system thwarted the audacity of hope.
But speaking truth to power is supposed to be a beginning, not an end. I have always envisioned Obama running America, rather, the way Bill Clinton did, minus a sex scandal and the political blunders such as the Hillarycare debacle.
That is, I have imagined Barack Obama as a politician: high-minded and intelligent, but a politician. There is a difference between change you can believe in and change that just feels good to talk about.
Also on The Root:
John McWhorter skips the Juneteenth celebration, Terence Samuel watches Obama take a jab, and Marjorie Valbrun frets over a flag pin.
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The Audacity of Pragmatism
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View All Comments »jdylan at 07/12/2008 11:57:34 PM
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There is no room for "consistent support" in a democratic nation. That support is only for Kings who order it; for soldiers who's greatest virtue is obedience above all else. The people of this country are not soldiers, they are citizens, Kings who decide who shall be in their court. And if a King finds a member of his court has in fact misrepresented his positions he removes him. We, as Kings, must and will always maintain our freedom to change our minds should new information present itself. People are now seeing what I've known since first hearing and reading Obama's naive words of hope and change.
Hope is used as a weapon against the weak who still believe they have no control over their lives. Hope torments those by telling the weak they are weak. Then the weak ask those who are strong, the one's who have no need of hope because they are men of action, to help the weak become the strong. Hamlet was correct when he asked "to be or not to be." Those who hope choose not to be. Hope is truly a slave morality; recalcitrance.
Obama's calling for "change" is nothing but a false ideology which he proves with his now pragmatic approach; reality can not be denied. In order for change to occur the bickering ideologies of the right and left must be destroyed, which they can not. They are like Siamese twins; born at the same time and if you kill one they both die. If a man cuts off one of his arms, he is then a man with only one arm. And even more foolish if the man then realizes it is the center, the head, which controls the arms. The independents and independent thinkers decide who the President will be. Obama is fully aware of this, but has already been seen to much as a liar to make it count.
thevegasstyleguy at 07/12/2008 3:16:17 PM
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Obama said he was "different" now he's "pragmatic". C'mon, would so many people have voted for him if they knew he was for FISA? How many gays would have voted for him knowing he wants to triple faith based funding. How many anti-war folks would have voted for him if they knew he was going to think about the situation before making any changes in the current plans? How many military families or Muslims would have voted for him if they knew the "pragmatic" O wouldn't want them sitting behind him on stage or attend town hall meetings with the republican candidate in military towns.
Talking outta both sides of his neck.
jdylan at 07/12/2008 3:50:48 AM
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Pragmatism vs. ideology? It amazes me that this is still a question. Since when have ideals been anything other than a rope with which to hang oneself. Ideals do not discuss options or choices or examine outcomes; they solicit followers. They say that they are the one and only option, the only path. Ideals find themselves to the far left and the far right equally. Ideals lie by saying that a theory is indisputable fact. Example; Jesus is your savior. The true pragmatist asks, "what free man ever needed to be saved? And from what other than ideals?"
To understand the center of the continuum America, the independent thinkers have and always will be the deciders of elections, is to be an expert on pragmatism. An understanding that the best paths are to be found in any given situation, not to always use the same path in every situation. Pragmatism is truly an ability to adapt. It finds its root in survival of the fittest. Any nation that lacks this kind of adaptability is destined to fall, along with the whole of humanity should we all become idealistic. One must be superior to his ideals, must learn to throw the square block away should it not fit in the round hole. But ideology doesn't find its only enemy is pragmatism, but also liberty, freedom and consciousness; reality itself.
To have one ideal is better than having two. To have more than one is to have a war of ideals with in oneself. They will always fight for superiority in the self to become the one and only ideal. It is best if one's ideal is pragmatism; supreme freedom is always the best ideal.
It's to bad only a few will be able to understand what I've written here. One would have to know and understand Nietzsche. A recent poll stated that 92% of Americans believe in a god, so I would say less than 8% will see the truth in the dangers of ideals. The chains it binds a person with.
Because of what I just stated this election comes down to the lesser of two evil yet again. Until the candidate which acknowledges the overwhelming possibility that there is not one god but perhaps as many gods as there are people will there be one truly worthy of my vote. Are not all views of god interpretations, hence many gods? And as for candidates who actually have stepped across the isle, put away there left or right ideology, McCain has at least shown some pragmatism.