Obama’s victory
For all Obama’s stirring eloquence in last night’s Iowa victory speech (included below), he still — to my mind — has not answered Paul Krugman’s repeated critique: that our president needs to be mean, that Democrats and Republicans cannot be brought together, and that hope is not a policy. Cosma Shalizi’s review of Krugman’s latest book is maybe the best synopsis of this viewpoint.
That said, congratulations to Obama, congratulations to his supporters, and good luck to the Democratic candidate who’s most likely to help our country.
The man gives great speech, if nothing else.
P.S.: Conversations with my friends over the past few weeks have suggested that most of us, myself included, believe the following: Obama and Edwards have their hearts in the right place, but may not know how to wield the levers of power effectively. Hillary, on the other hand, knows just how to move those levers, but moves them in the service of nothing valuable.
I’d add the following: if charm weighs at all in your decision of whom to vote for, Hillary loses in a landslide. Other than believing her the most electable candidate, I don’t know why anyone would vote for Clinton.