Barack Obama

[Steeltrap]

Originally posted by TonyB06
You usually make sense to me, Steeltrap. (except when you talk shopping; then I'm lost) Interesting point, though; does it boil down to no more than old/new school generational politics? As Ford-Obama mature do they move from opportunity to resentment block pols? Who would the author identify as opportunity block Afam politicians over 60? any?

Obama made a good speech, and showed he can move people to see his vision, but it was still just a speech. I have to study his policy positions before deciding how much I'll buy. I know a bit more about Ford but not much, same deal. It will be interesting to see how these men shape themselves....or allow others to shape them.

This reminds me of the early Colin Powell situation of 1995/96. Everybody "loved" him, I think because nobody really knew his policy stances. We had allusions about certain topics, AA, but had he declared for president (and had to make take position stances), I think his support would have dropped by nearly 50 percent right off the top. But C. Powell played it right, and sold a lot of books in the process.

...but I have learned a new term----->resentment block politics. Thank you, Professor Steeltrap.

You're welcome. In terms of opportunity block over 60, I'm not sure who that author may identify as such.

More thoughts on opportunity block: What I suspect is that pols who think like that are those who don't see the society as hopeless. I don't see them as excusing institutional racism, but I also think that they believe that they don't necessarily see it as a total life-killer and that we have to take some responsibility for behavioral choices. The Cosby remarks and Henry Louis Gates' writings seem to address this line of thought.

I don't know if Ford/Obama/Denise Majette/Artur Davis/Cory Booker etc. become resentment block pols as they get older. If they continue what they're doing now, I doubt that will happen.