Who Is” We?”
Hey! Happy Independence Day. And I mean it. It’s been a long hard winter here in the Rockies, floods all over the Midwest diminishing our food supply, record gas prices, ruin and disaster in Zimbabwe, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, China, North Korea… need I go on? Oh yes, and a bitter political campaign ahead.
Besides the swarms of people flocking the streets in Aspen today sipping bloody marys with one hand and waving little flags with the other, is the Aspen Institute’s series of events with speakers ranging from Bill Clinton, Colin Powell, Madeline Albright and even The Dalai Lama. One interesting panel discussion two days ago was on the 2008 election strategy of both candidates with Arianna Huffington, David Brooks, Stuart Rothenberg, Jim Wallis, Jonathan Capehart, Amy Goodman, and Jonathan Alter moderating.
Some very interesting things were said of Obama’s bizarre and unfortunate B-line to the Center. After, I spoke to Amy Goodman, and we arranged that I’ll visit the studio in New York when I get back, as she is indeed one of my heroes. I spoke to Arianna Huffington, (Hunter always had a crush on her.) asked me to write for her Huffington post, which of course I am happy to do. So, I’ll give you a link when it’s up. I just sent her my first post 5 minutes ago.
I’m no political master, but I did watch my political master husband at work every day. His definition was “politics is the art of controlling your environment.” So I thought about this with my ever-present notebook in hand as I watched the panel discussion two days ago. One question posed in the panel, and often in my blog emails, is how do you control your environment? Let’s be specific and ask ourselves how Obama is going to control it.
As Hunter always said “WE is the most important word in politics.”
So, my post is about who is the WE in Obama’s environment now? The swing voters or the unlikely voters? The FISA fiasco was a bad as seeing him in that black 10 gallon cowboy hat yesterday — really gave me the creeps. Why is he doing this? Oh Democrats.
Amy Goodman had to interrupt Jonathan Alter when he said Obama has promised to pull out of Iraq. No. He’s being wishy washy on that already, and now saying he’ll consult the “experts” when he’s in office. Oh Democrats.
Walter Isaacson has created an interesting atmosphere in Aspen over the last few years since he took over the Institute. It balances the scary scene of 200,000 tourists on our streets with nothing on their minds but Gucci and Margaritas. Oh, I’m sorry. That’s not fair. Some have cocaine on their minds too.
Anyway, I’ll be going to see David Schoen talk about polling and the upcoming election at 5pm. Having drinks with my dear friend John Walsh from ESPN, and my hang-gliding buddy, Lisa Verzella after.
So, on the WE note, on her blog, Arrianna did mention to Obama that he should listen to some of his own speeches as inspiration. In one of which he said:
“This campaign can’t only be about me. It must be about us – it must be about what we can do together. This campaign must be the occasion, the vehicle, of your hopes, and your dreams. It will take your time, your energy, and your advice – to push us forward when we’re doing right, and to let us know when we’re not. This campaign has to be about reclaiming the meaning of citizenship, restoring our sense of common purpose, and realizing that few obstacles can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change…. That’s why I’m in this race. Not just to hold an office, but to gather with you to transform a nation.”
The question is, who is WE? If that doesn’t get him going, maybe this portion of that ‘ol document that caused all this celebration today, signed 232 years ago might help…
We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States,..
…— And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
— Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776
Yes Indeed. WE is the most important word in politics.
Until next time, your friend,
Anita Thompson
