In Response to a Query: Some Flaws, as Seen by Harrogate, in Obama's Candidacy

One thing that particularly bugs Harrogate about Obama is that, like Hillary Clinton, his pretentions to Leadership virtuosity have no actual referent with respect to his time in the Senate. Indeed, after the Democrats took the Congressional majority in 2006, one might have thought some sort of Unification might have occured, by virture of which GOP Rule would be at least attenuated. But perhaps like Clinton, Dodd, and Biden, Obama has been too busy running for President to attend to the fact that the Dem Congress has been getting thoroughly rolled in every way since he arrived in Washington.

If he is so good at "bringing Democrats together with Republicans", why couldn't he "Unify" them enough to get an override of the President's Veto on S-Chip? Where is his Leadership on stopping institutionalized Torture? Where is his Leadership, his great unifying skills, on Iraq? The truth is, he has been an absolute non factor in the United States Senate. Leadership? Bringing people together? We're fortunate he's even voted "Present" as much as he has.

Second, his campaign is predicated on his supposedly unique ability to get Washington to rise above partisan divides in the most important political issues of the Day. This--The Kumbaya Schtick--is perpetually silly. As if this needs explanation, consider the likelihood of Insurance and Pharm Lobbyists, on the basis of some politico's Soaring Rhetoric, saying you know what, our profit margins are less important than realizing this wondrous vision.

Third, Harrogate's heart is sick because BOTH Obama and Clinton are running campaigns that glorify their own personal qualities (cult of personality), at the expense, Harrogate firmly believes, of the Democratic Party and thus the nation.

Harrogate appreciates that both candidates want to highlight the positive, and go on and on abhout what they think they can bring to the table. But at the same time, somewhere at the front of this entire election should also be the social, economic, and global consequences of GOP rule.

Obama does not warn people about the danger of the GOP retaining power, he's too busy prattling on about Unifying "Democrats and Republicans alike," getting them beyond "old divides," etc. While Hillary Clinton is also narcissistic to the point of gagging Harrogate with a Spoon, she at least occasionally reminds voters that it is not Bush, but the GOP Borg, which has brought us where we are, and which will make things much, much worse should they win again.

There are lots of other things that Harrogate will address in the future, but these suffice for now, they are connected inasmuch as they point to Obama as an Empty Suit.

Shred away!