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davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
Sun May 5, 2013, 10:51 AM May 2013

Some day, you too could become President!

Does anyone else have a recollection of being in school as a child - and being told by smiling teachers or parents that, if you work hard and you're a good person, you might one day become President? How about those old Mcdonald commercials... "Hey, it could happen!" I was thinking of this today, as I poured a cup of coffee and yawned through the morning "news".

I notice that it has been a long time since anyone suggested to me that, here in the land of the free, anyone can become President. Of course, the fact that Obama won - a black man! Might be evidence that, truly, anyone can rise to the highest office in this great Country of ours. Back in 2008, I felt redeemed, as an American, when Obama won the election. When, despite the fairly commonly held belief that America was too racist to elect a black man... guess what? We did! Yes we could, yes we did. Yes we might again one day.

I recall a feeling of hope, of optimism, that as a habitual pessimist I was not really accustomed to. It made me somewhat uncomfortable, really. I watched him take his oath of office as I held my breath, fearing for a shooter in the crowd, a terrorist attack, any of a million things that might have gone wrong on that day - that might have ruined our chance for a true revolution for the REAL people of America. When it was finally over, I suspect I was not the only one letting out a deep sigh of relief.

However, in the years since... as I have learned more about the political structure in this Country and have watched our politicians in action for several years, I find that that old pessimism has returned tenfold. Without judging Obama as good or bad (generally I approve of him, but there are some areas where we strongly disagree) I have to say that I am jaded, cynical. How is it possible to hold elections that at all resemble anything "free and fair", when it costs hundreds of millions of dollars just to be taken seriously as a contender? Mitt Romney had more money, it is true, but can you imagine a working class individual, however intelligent or well spoken, being taken seriously as a candidate? I can't.

Citizens United was, for me (and, I suspect for many of you) the straw that broke the camel's back. It is not a free and fair system where anyone can rise to the top... rather, it is a system in which if you are wealthy enough or have enough wealthy friends, if you don't do anything too terribly embarrassing on television (Dean scream, anyone?) you just might get enough votes to win. Even your voters probably won't be crazy about you, they'll take you as the lesser of two evils, with a resigned sigh that, "It's the best we can hope for."

I wish I had something inspirational, hopeful, or moving to say in response to this. Instead, I look back on those silly, optimistic, naive teachers and parents and I chuckle softly, mockingly. In order to ever again have a system that resembles fairness, that truly offers opportunity for all... we MUST reform campaign finance. It is time for us to realize that you can't eat money, that bottomless bank accounts do not make for greatly humanitarian, kind, or empathetic individuals. It's time we took something back for ourselves.

So, I ask you all... how do we do this?

8 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Some day, you too could become President! (Original Post) davidthegnome May 2013 OP
Almost recommended... until the "Dean Scream" crack... Cooley Hurd May 2013 #1
I'm not sure I understand your point. davidthegnome May 2013 #2
Recommended after clarification. Cooley Hurd May 2013 #3
I was not told that DavidDvorkin May 2013 #4
I have only a vague understanding of what that means. davidthegnome May 2013 #5
Correct DavidDvorkin May 2013 #6
Join your local Democratic club and become a part of the solution. JDPriestly May 2013 #7
I believe I'll take your advice. davidthegnome May 2013 #8
 

Cooley Hurd

(26,877 posts)
1. Almost recommended... until the "Dean Scream" crack...
Sun May 5, 2013, 11:14 AM
May 2013

You should do a bit of research on the "Dean Scream" incident:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Scream#Disappointing_Iowa_results_and_the_.22Dean_Scream.22_media_gaffe
Dean conceded that the speech did not project the best image, jokingly referring to it as a "crazy, red-faced rant" on the Late Show with David Letterman. In an interview later that week with Diane Sawyer, he said he was "a little sheepish ... but I'm not apologetic." Sawyer and many others in the national broadcast news media later expressed some regret about overplaying the story. In fact, CNN issued a public apology and admitted in a statement that they indeed may have "overplayed" the incident.

davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
2. I'm not sure I understand your point.
Sun May 5, 2013, 11:36 AM
May 2013

Let me try to clarify mine.

The famous "Dean scream" was not something that I personally felt was an issue for embarrassment. Rather, I found it to be evidence of a man who cared, who was truly passionate about the issues he spoke of, not simply a cold plutocrat as are many of our political favorites.

The media played this many, many times and played a great part in tainting his image. A lot of people, myself included, mocked the media and many others for suggesting that, because of a mere passionate scream, he was somehow not presidential material. Hell, I remember a long time conservative telling me he admired Dean because Dean had the courage to scream on public television. I concur.

My point is that it is entirely ridiculous, when someone screaming on National television somehow makes him un-electable. Dean always seemed to me to be more of a real human being than most of his fellow candidates. I admired him greatly. I realize I wasn't terribly clear about that in my post. Dean, I fear, was much too HUMAN for our media's talking heads and our political dittoheads to get excited about. He was too real. That is in large part the point of the OP. It's one of those things that just makes me throw up my hands and sigh.

We'll vote for sneering plutocrats, for drunken idiots from Texas, for billionaire authoritarians, all without batting an eye. Yet when someone who is rather more of a regular person runs for office... he is endlessly mocked and rejected for the very thing that SHOULD make him MORE electable.

DavidDvorkin

(19,406 posts)
4. I was not told that
Sun May 5, 2013, 12:34 PM
May 2013

Because I'm a naturalized citizen. Never mind the practicalities; we're excluded by law.

davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
5. I have only a vague understanding of what that means.
Sun May 5, 2013, 01:03 PM
May 2013

That you were born outside the Country? I know it's the reason the Governator (Arnold) couldn't run for President, even though a number of republicans wanted him to.

The Governator notwithstanding, I some times wonder if we lose out on great potential by excluding naturalized citizens. There is no real reason that someone who was not born here should not be able to run for President. At least, no convincing reason that I can think of. A naturalized citizen is still a citizen... and should, by that very definition, be entitled to the same rights as everyone else. I wonder how many intelligent, talented people of real potential have been passed over for simple reasons of the origin of their birth. It strikes me as rather ridiculous.

How idiots like Limbaugh would howl if one day a real immigrant from, say, Mexico, had the opportunity to run for President.

DavidDvorkin

(19,406 posts)
6. Correct
Sun May 5, 2013, 01:19 PM
May 2013

I was born in another country and became a citizen through the naturalization process.

The requirement that a president be a natural-born citizen has surely kept some good people from running for president. It makes no sense, and other democracies don't have such a rule.

JDPriestly

(57,936 posts)
7. Join your local Democratic club and become a part of the solution.
Sun May 5, 2013, 01:52 PM
May 2013

That is if you aren't active already. Get to know the leaders of your local party. Strengthen the resolve of those you meet at the meetings. Raise issues you want discussed. Offer to help organize. Work on campaigns for people you would like to see in office.

Stand on a corner and hand out brochures on issues and political leaders you like. You have a right to free speech -- and not just on the internet. Use it to promote good things in your community.

You climb a mountain one step at a time. Never lose your resolve. Never be discouraged. Never get angry. Always promise yourself to learn and do even better next time.

davidthegnome

(2,983 posts)
8. I believe I'll take your advice.
Sun May 5, 2013, 02:01 PM
May 2013

Ranting about it here is one thing... actually getting out and trying to do something about it is something else. A million excuses not to leap to mind... "I'm too tired", "I work too much as it is!", "I'll be the youngest person there! They're old sticks who can't get passionate about anything!" but, I need to apply the effort.

I have never climbed a true mountain. I become discouraged rather frequently - but I try really hard not to ever become angry and lose my temper. I suppose I had best find myself some climbing gear... talk to a few people and see how I can help organize and what I can do to support campaigns of people I'd like to see in office. Most of them aren't interested in running for office, but there must be a few....

I have to admire your patience and optimism. I just hope that, as I'm struggling to help make a difference, there will be someone around to remind me of why I shouldn't just give up. It's really, very easy to give up, because it so often seems like the cards are stacked against us, like the chances of us truly making a difference are similar to the chances of climbing a really big mountain, without climbing gear.

I'll try. It's a good suggestion. I've been to conventions in the past, but what I recall the most strongly... is being bored, uncomfortable, or wanting to shout at people.

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