The rhetoric was hot and heavy. Old friends had dagggers drawn. Boy all of you are a bunch of hotheads. Pro-Obama and those with some worry about Obama. Why can't you all be calm and rational like me? . . . .
Anyway, if you read my linked piece, you can understand, not necessarily agree, understand, my concerns. They are different than Sirota's. I am not much worried about "accomplishments." I am worried about his winning and not hurting Dems in the attempt. But Obama is an extraordinary talent who is deserving of support. But I think we need to ask more of him, for his own good and our own good.
More.
I have devoted a great deal of time, thinking, and pixels to Obama for the past 6 months. But that is because he is something special:
Reading my posts (here, here and here) that touch on Barack Obama you might get the impression I do not like him. To the contrary, I see in Barack Obama a potentially transforming politician. Noam Scheiber gets it:
I like John Edwards. I think he's a well-intentioned guy with good ideas and considerable charms. But he's no Barack Obama. Spend a little time with each of them and you quickly realize there's no comparison between the two men's intellects--Obama is much smarter and has a much more sophisticated view of politics. Edwards is charismatic, but Obama is far more so. (Just compare their performances at the 2004 Democratic convention.) And, unlike Edwards, Obama spent years grappling with public policy issues before he got to the U.S. Senate--first as a community organizer in Chicago, then as a constitutional lawyer and state senator. Except for the last, none of that is a knock on Edwards. Obama is easily more intelligent, sophisticated, and charismatic than 99 percent of the politicians I've come across. (Bill Clinton is the only one I can think of who combines all three talents in similar proportions.)
I concur. Edwards is terrific. Obama is one in a generation. That is why it frustrates me so when he makes the mistakes that he does. I scold him because I love him . .
I understand the passionate support he inspires. But I think there are legitimate concerns. I think we should be able to discuss them.
I extend my hand of conciliation and apologies for my own hotheadedness. Look, it is going to happen to all of us, to you non-hotheads too. But a lot of you have known me for a long time and I hope we won't let these little rows stand in the way of good discussion. I am looking at you Musings, Jane Knowles, miss liberties and others. Even looking at you geekesque. You are not a dumbass, but you aren't being very receptive to alternative thinking.
As for you Bob Johnson, you can kiss my ass. You too Larry.