If further proof that Obama is not the second coming (was there a first coming?), you can find it here, at Tom Tomorrow’s site:
So Barack Obama just recorded a radio ad for Rep. John Barrow (D-GA). Barrow has accused Democrats of wanting to “cut and run” in Iraq, and enthusiastically supports telcom immunity. He needs Obama’s support because he’s being challenged in the primary by State Senator Regina Thomas. Bonus ugliness: Barrow is white, Thomas is an African-American woman.
You would think that Obama would have learned his lesson, after the Lieberman thing in 2006. There is no reason why he should throw his weight behind this guy. He doesn’t need Georgia, because if Georgia is in play in November it means that he’s on his way to a landslide win. Nor does he need this guy in the Congress next year. As with Lieberman, the favor will not be returned, and he’ll doubtless line up with the Republicans to oppose Obama at nearly every turn.
Further proof that he’s not your un-typical politician: he’s been nowhere on the FISA issue these days. Could a few words from him put paid to the whole thing? We’ll never know.
While we can hope that Obama will turn out to be a truly great president, it’s important to maintain a certain amount of critical detachment. The disappointments, when they surely come, will be easier to deal with if we steel ourselves in advance. The downside to the great enthusiasm that he has engendered is the real possibility that he will prove to be just another politician when he gets into office. That could permanently turn off a large portion of the young people who support him so enthusiastically. His candidacy is a bit of an insurgency, so it’s disappointing that he seems to reflexively protect the intrenched against other insurgents. It’s also disappointing that he has been so disengaged from the ongoing rape of the constitution. He’s one up on John McCain, because he at least casts his vote, but he doesn’t speak out much. It’s partially understandable. The spineless Democrats in the Senate would no doubt cast their votes with Bush anyway, making him look weak. Still, while a leader does need followers, he or she also needs to take risks. It wouldn’t be so bad if he decided to start with saving the Constitution.
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