So… sitting here in the US of A, in California, in particular (gold rich in delegates for both Democrats and Republicans), it’s Super Tuesday. Basically a national primary. When 24 states vote for more than 3,100 convention delegates – the nominated candidates for the parties get directly chosen by these delegates; ‘the people’ cast their preferences – and we might know by the end of the night who the Republican candidate is, though we might not know the Democrat candidate (since Clinton and Obama are so close, it may be finally decided only at the Democratic national convention in August). A strangely confusing process.
Initially, I found the process more than confusing: it felt nasty, brutish and unbearably long (Indian elections might be nasty, brutish and bloody, but at least they don’t sputter on interminably). Candidates were slinging mud at each other, it seemed more like personality clashes rather than ideological debates, and nobody really seemed to define this amorphous word ‘change’ that was being bandied about furiously. Change not just for this country, but irrevocably, intrinsically, for the rest of the world.
It’s felt better over the past few weeks. Clinton and Obama seem to have quietened down their rhetoric against each other, and the Republicans are now busy slanging each other off, a process I enjoy (chuckle).
However, what’s really buoying my spirits as an inveterate politics junkie, is that the spirit of this country seems to be turning political. In a way that I have never seen before in all my trips here, and in ways that American friends themselves are feeling optimistic about. Politics is getting talked about. After all, as the Guardian puts it, this election has created a tableau like no other: those standing for President include a woman, a black man, a Mormon, a one time prisoner of war and a Baptist minister. No matter who wins, history will be made. Particularly if it’s the Democrats.
And here I am, the junkie whose rush comes from my conversations with the passionate auto driver in a dusty ride from MG Road to Koramangala, or the fiery isthri walla down the road, or the feminist panchayat leader in the middle of north Karnataka (who may not know the word but does the deed)… here I am, firm believer in Indian democracy – with all its ills and spills and grease and slime – a believer because my people are political. They care. They care, passionately, fiercely, deeply. Often disastrously and despairingly. But they care.
And finally, I find that we may not be that different from those rushing out to vote here in America, today. Finally, politics matters. It might be time for change. It might even be time for transformation.
Frankly, from the perspective of the rest of the world: it’s about bloody time.
dontcha worry — clinton or obama, it’s more of the same.
you cynic. you may be right, though. sigh.
more sinned against than cynic.
With Obama, it is not more of the same. Stand For Change. Yes We can
tr: would you rather i just called you cyntillating??
IndiansForObama, I hope you’re right. I also hope those who believe Hillary can do it are right. I just hope the Democrats are right (in as left a way as possible), and that they can win this!
There is also a blog post to be written about the very disturbing misogyny in the process so far, but that’s for another time.
i’m curious where IfO is coming from. policy-wise, the only apparent difference between the two is on their healthcare proposals, and obama’s is worse. so where’s the substance behind the assertion?
i find myself leaning towards obama because the negative campaigning of the clintons pissed me off (and the Dead reunited for him last week – you guys should have gone). but on a pragmatic basis, there’s not much to choose. both are, as you implied, way too right.
TR:
We are just a loosely affiliated group of Dem Desis in IL. We have two Desi delegates – out of 6 – that are listed for Obama. You are right, it is a tough choice between the two. We fervently wish they had run at different times. Whoever it is, our ultimate goal is to have a Dem in the WH. We do a lot of GOTV (Get out the vote) on Nov. 4th every election cycle, and we are eager to do it for either one.
Obama certainly could have done with a little more seasoning. He ceratinly can’t be as bad as the ‘seasoned’ Bush. The problem for Obama was that if he didn’t run this year, he probably would have to wait until 2016. He would be rolling the dice by then with his popularity and time in the senate.
Why Obama? His Iraq stance is clear, he is fresh and is a refreshing change from so many of the establishment candidates, electability, ability to energize his base and work with his opponents and lastly he is from IL and our Senator. Clinton is great but the baggage she carries – unfairly not her’s – and her ability to unite Repugs is unnerving.
No matter what, Dems will have created history on Nov 4th. YES WE CAN !!
IndiansForObama: thanks very much for responding to TR’s question and with such balance. I certainly am hoping for a Dem in the White House, one who will be more sensitive and responsive to the issues of people both within the US, and who understands the implications of US foreign policy on those elsewhere in the world.
And TR: I think there’s been negative campaigning on both sides – and like I said before, misogyny of an unbelievable nature in the general coverage – but I miss Dennis Kucinich. How can you not admire a guy who says he voted against the Patriot Act because “I read it”?? sigh.
IfO – thanks for the clarification.
A – interesting times ahead indeed.
There is a movement for Obama already going on.
Check it out at http://www.indiansforobama.com