As I sit here watching March Madness, I see the future of politics. Do I see politics as a game? Perhaps, but that is not the future, that is the nature of politics. No, the key is that I am not watching on television. I am watching on my computer. I have watched the debates online before. But what is remarkable is that I can watch any game at anytime. This was available last year, but it worked sporadically, this year it will be my standard way to watch.
But instead of watching Kansas St. and USC (good game by the way), I imagine that I am watching a Senate debate. Instead of watching Duke and Belmont (is Duke going to lose), I imagine that I am watching a cabinet debate (man am I junkie). The MSM has not even begun to deal with blogs, imagine when every debate, every second of the government is open to every citizen. Barack Obama understands the change that this will make on politics.
That is why there is the "fierce urgency of now". Obama’s speech on race is a harbinger for the future. The surprising thing about the speech is that it did not surprise me. People called it an incredible discussion of race. But I have seen many here write just a lucidly on many topics. No, the thing that was surprising was that the speech was simply honest. What Barack understood was that he could do nothing, but provide the transparency he has promised. And allow the American people to hold him accountable. How different from the unaccountable Dick Cheney?
There are those who believe that further transparency will just drive the hidden mechanics of government underground. I don’t believe it. Like Barack could not duck issues with his pastor. Meetings such as Hillary’s NAFTA meeting will be expected to be on video. But, our politicians will have to provide more than honesty, they will have to provide nuance. Because the fact of the matter is the issues are nuanced and that is the only way to treat them honestly. Even those here who believe that NAFTA should never have been passed, will admit there is a place for trade agreements (just not ones that give away the house).
And what the pundits and MSM don’t get is how fast it is all happening. Two years ago, I could only watch one game at time, now I can watch them all. How long before Americans can ask questions of congressman during their speeches? How long before we can just turn off the TV and never watch it again (oh, wait I don’t have a TV). This is why it is "change we can believe in" and this why Barack is says:
"I am asking you to believe not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington ... I am asking you to believe in yours."