I still support him whole-heartedly.
But I did say, many times, that I saw little practical difference between Obama and Clinton. In other ways, there are worlds of difference. But not in practical terms.
They both might well bring change or maybe they would just play it safe.
But nothing in either one's actions suggested anything resembling a jolting shift in policy.
I mean, maybe in reality Obama really wants to do it - and his words until last week suggested that he does - while I was less certain about Clinton.
But when push came to shove so far - in voting records and current rhetoric - it seems to be just more of the same either way.
And, mind you, I don't say this as a criticism.
Interestingly, when I said or implied such things in the past, most just assumed I was, in reality, a rabid Clinton partisan.
Odd, that. Especially given that everything I wrote about this subject made it clear that I was quite bleh about the two of them.
Of course, the basic premise I made was correct.
It was proven in the entirety of both of their past voting records.
And it continues now.
But I was curious about the reactions of others...
And, yes, no doubt some will say that Clinton would have been similarly middle-of-the-road throw-the-party-off-a-cliff.
So what?
The Democratic candidate for President is saying these things. I don't give a fuck who that person is. I don't like the content of what is being said. If it were Clinton, I'd be fucking pissed at her for it.
But it's Obama... and it remains disheartening. Maybe more so because his rhetoric suggested something totally different.
So, who among the formerly-so-vigorously-demanding even gives a crap?
After the ugly behavior, from January to June, of so many on here, front-pagers and Kos included, as well as quite a bit of the blogosphere, my judgment was this: I can no longer trust many these people.
People like Kos, Aravosis, Kieth Olbermann, etc., had once talked a good talk about integrity, etc. But then, to my surprise in certain cases, they had to descend into outright lies for a few months.
Note that intense criticism was fine by me. It was the actual lies that made me drop them like a rotten apple. Even when proven wrong, they wouldn't let it go. Reminded me of creationists. Not pleasant to see.
But that's in the past, I suppose.
From the recent events, though, I was curious regarding the purer-than-thouists: Since they once demanded absolute purity from one candidate and, not having gotten it, ripped her to pieces, how would they react to this current multi-pronged fall from purity by Obama?
Would they make excuses or would they stand up for principles?
I figured, now that the testosterone had subsided, the answer would speak volumes about those individuals. How true are people to their values versus how true are they to their arbitrarily chosen "winner"?
Short list...
Aravosis: Make excuses.
Olbermann: Make excuses. Then, only when publicly and roundly rebuked, by only a few folks, say the opposite. If you buy that one, I've got a war to sell ya.
Not looking good.
Markos: Stood up for principles.
OH THANK FRAKKING GOD!
Someone has some principles. And I'm extremely glad it's Markos. He's the one I always thought had the most pragmatic and realistic view of things and wasn't an incessant hothead. Plus, selfishly, he was very nice to me when I asked him a few questions back at a 2004 Dem Convention related event in Boston.
And that, Markos' (and some others' here) willingness to criticize bad behavior as well as reward the good, is why I'm back here, not that anyone cares.
But what about Obama?
I can say I trust Obama.
And by that I mean, I trust him as much as I would have trusted Clinton or almost any other Democrat in the position of candidate for President.
Which is to say, I don't trust them much, but I get the deal. He's apparently courting the Republican base, or something of that sort, which is a totally valid political maneuver.
Just as Clinton has done and would have done.
I was very well aware that both were bound to displease me on points like that. This is simply illustrating the truth of that.
However, for my own selfish reasons, I suppose, I want to actually be proud to support the Democratic candidate. I can't find him on any of the channels this week.
Maybe next week, he'll be back on the TeeVee.
I'm really less worried about that though, and more about the people who have suddenly gone silent.
It's kinda like they all blew their wad and aren't interested anymore.