Like A CD Release...

He's young, attractive, and speaks in idealistic generalities. He is popular among the young and trendy who have a cut-throat judgment on what's new and cool versus what's old and stale. He is above the "old way" while offering a "new way". He speaks of hope and change echoing the great American leaders Martin Luther King, Jr, John F. Kennedy, and Robert F. Kennedy. It feels good to support such a person. It gives a sense of purpose to be a part of a movement that appears bigger than one's self and pure of heart.  Such broad appeal has no risks, no positions to stake a political career on; no specifics that would be open to scrutiny.  Advocates may scream "but he does have specifics!  read his website!!".   Though after reading you'd find no maverick of progress or any brave new ideas, but similar if not the safer policies of any of the democrats running for the nomination.  Senator Obama is a talented politician garnering the enthusiasm of a whole new wave of voters with catchy one-liners and vague platitudes.  Critics of these platitudes are labeled as cynics, old-timers, jaded people who only want more of the same. Most of the media and blogs fail in their role of checks and balances because they haven't the courage to be "against hope".

This framing of the reality is a dangerous position at this moment in our history. It is reminiscent of the populist movements in old Europe and before. Barack Obama is a harmless politician, thankfully, making no bold sweeping changes in our way of life, and policy. He is in actuality a great speaker with a short resume. American citizens under an Obama administration could only guess to what his strengths and weaknesses would be. His greatest asset is the grass-roots and youth to which he would owe his nomination and eventual inauguration. But just like a new CD release by their favorite artist, he would fade into the past and eventually (and ironically) into the establishment. It is a fickle thing to rise so fast with so little done. And it would take his on-the-job training to prove this truth.

Hillary Clinton also inspires. She has inspired many to look into the future and know what the results of hard work and determination can be. She is a great change in direction, policy-wise, in our nation's long term future course. Imagine for a moment a new United States under a Hillary Clinton administration.  Imagine it with universal health care that covered everybody, imagine a renewed respect in the world, and imagine hope and change for the impoverished with foreseeable results. Hillary Clinton is the true tried and tested symbol for change in the legacy of America's great leaders. She has fought, worked, and succeeded in spite of great opposition. She, like all leaders who take strong positions, has earnest followers and loud but temporary vitriolic opponents. Her speeches are not designed to cast spells or be sermon-like in delivery but are more cerebral and down to earth. She doesn't need to feign change because what she offers is real change. Hillary does not have a new CD coming out, she is a presidential candidate with ideas and scars from previous political battles. This is the proof of her longevity. This is the hope of her presidency. Not a flash-in-the-pan but a stamp in our history.