During the Campaign we all posted unscientific online polls because they helped convince the local press which way the wind was blowing.
And who had the greater energy and passion of the populace on their side.
The thinking is, if you have more people willing to go out and vote in these polls, you must have the greater momentum.
Once again it is important to vote on an online poll.
This time its about Obama getting the Noble Peace Prize. Some of us may feel its pre-mature we want to see real progress in the Middle-East and an end to our wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, first.
But given the last eight years under the previous administration and its championing of "preemptive war"--the Bush Doctrine--one can understand the Nobel Committee's thinking and relief.
We here are in the middle of our own war. A no less important war for Hearts and Minds than it was Vietnam. Its a media war. One we all waged during the Campaign. Its come down, unfortunately to be either "pro-Obama" or "anti-Obama" with little nuance in-between.
I didn't want the banks bailed out--but I know why Obama did it. Most people's life savings are in IRAs and were being held hostage by the Banks & Wall Street.
I want a single-payer Health System. But I know why he wants to keep the Insurance Companies alive, because in large swaths of this country Dr.'s offices are the only employers and they employ people to deal with insurance companies. Not to mention these companies are the largest employers in some states, sadly. Obama doesn't want to add to the unemployment.
I want a WPA type work program(s) to start immediately. Our infrastructure is falling apart and we all know it. It could have started in New Orleans re-enforcing the levy system. But we have to demand these things. And not enough people are willing to get into the street to protest or are too busy making a living to do it. We should have had a huge Labor Day rally...but either the left is too fractured or distracted. I'm not sure which.
For all we want to have happen depends on Obama being "perceived" as strong well as being strong. This is derived from his popularity. And everything we can do to shore that up helps us.
The only way to do that is to show he has Public support. I'm not saying we don't go out and demand he push for the Public Option. A REAL PUBLIC OPTION--not some phoney, water down one. For Peace, for clean air and water...etc. And ridicule him when he doesn't move to end "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
But the Press is an echo chamber and what gets echoed is important.
As foolish and unscientific it is, it reinforces a "meme" as George Lakoff might say. We can't let it go unchallenged. Right now his "doesn't deserve" is at 55%.
Don't vote based on Obama's actual achievement's towards Peace, but for pushing him and the rest of the American Public in this direction.
Thank you.
Washington Post Poll Here:
http://views.washingtonpost.com/...