A Political Glimpse from Ireland

I know politics is a dirty business and I accept that, however after yesterday it seems to have found a new low with what Senator Clinton has said to deflect attention away from her “Sniper Fire” story. Soon after the story broke on the news and every network around the world was discussing it, even here in Ireland, she did what she does best which is to pick up the biggest piece of dirt (Rev. Wright) she had on Senator Obama and fling it right back at the media in hopes of it sticking.

Some of that dirt may have stuck but her tactic has failed to a certain degree but more importantly I hope the Clinton supporters will realize the kind of game she is playing with the Democratic Party. Look back at the last 3 months of campaigning, who was the first person to really start attacking? It wasn’t Senator Obama but it was the Clinton call for the media to pay closer attention to him that started the downward spiral of the democratic nomination process and the party as a whole.

I respect Senator Clinton as a person and a politician however I am constantly wondering here across the pond what is she thinking??? Here is a quote from an ABC article by Jake Tapper:

She will have to “break his back,” the official said. She will have to destroy Obama, make Obama completely unacceptable.

That quote refers to what Senator Clinton will have to do in order to win the nomination. Now let us imagine such a hypothetical moment and think about the consequences of such a potential action. The Democratic Party will be broken, simple as that:

1. The majority of the Obama supporters will not vote for Senator Clinton because the nomination process has become so polarized they would rather sit at home and wait for the next election.
2. Despite some of Senator Obama’s faults, he is a great man and a politician, destroying him will be something that will hang over any Clinton presidency or loss.
3. Destroying Senator Obama would prevent him being her VP but we knew that was another lie anyway.
4. No Obama supporters pretty much means we can let McCain start to be the next President today.
5. Destroying Senator Obama would not only affect Americans but people around the world who are looking for a different kind of American President.

Lastly I did some quick photoshopping today to express my displeasure and incredulity at Senator Clinton’s statements yesterday:

Well I was browsing through Digg when I came upon this video (see sidebar) that was Senator Obama’s response to Senator Clinton’s criticism of his words being rhetoric and nothing more. I am writing this entry to respond to that but also to a few of my friends who have said the same thing about Senator Obama. A few friends of mine often belittle the meaning of a word however in every language around the world; it is words that inspire us to action. Without words there are no actions. Words are the beginning of actions so we must not lose their importance in the spectrum of daily life that emphasizes action. You know one of the things that I love about America is that you can have crazy dreams without people criticizing you for it and reminding you that reality is the word of the day and you should not “have your head in the clouds.”

You know the great thing about being in the clouds? You can see everything from there and that is a real strategic advantage. America and the world need hope, people in Ireland need hope and people all around the world need hope. Referring to the American election, hope is what has made the democrats come out in greater number than the republicans because as my previous entry stated, democrats are more open to different ideas and philosophies of thought. I am a big fan of hope and always tell my friends here that it is something you should always keep inside of you so that your actions can be spurred by it. At the age of 25 I would never have been to all the places that I have been too and seen the things that I have seen without this word.

At the age of 25, I would never have lived in three different countries and met so many different kinds of people that have truly enriched my life. This and more are what hope is about, Senator Clinton is correct in criticizing Senator Obama when it comes to a lack of experience but she is wrong in criticizing him about being only about rhetoric. I believe that Senator Obama is more than just hope; he is the only solution for America in a world that has changed immensely in the past decade. We need a leader that can step up to the global platform and inspire the people of America as well as the leaders of the world.

It is through this inspiration that effective change can occur within the country as well as the world. This effective change can solve the problems like a slowing economy, lackluster healthcare and a burgeoning national deficit. Americans need change, and electing John McCain or Hillary Clinton will not achieve that. Democrats, Republicans and Independents need to unite and that can only be done under Senator Obama. Hillary Clinton will not win the nomination because of this simple comic:

Senator Clinton is a great lady and an experienced leader but if she wins the nomination, Senator McCain might as well sit back and let the incensed conservative base elect him. I am not going to repeat what has been said in the press but emphasize what every Republican knows, they don’t like Senator Clinton. Exit polling has shown that Senator Obama is capable of winning Republican votes and that is what the democrats need.

I hope in the next few months running up to the DNC that people will think about leadership and past leaders like Martin Luther King Jr., Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela. Some of these names may not have had the greatest experiences in life but they are the greatest leaders of our time. These are some of leaders who have inspired people around the world and given them hope, and in this age of uncertainty about global warming, terrorism and economics, isn’t that what we need?