William K. Wolfrum Chronicles

While I still maintain a level of pessimism over what will happen in November, for the reasons detailed, I felt that Barack Obama came off as Presidential in his speech at the Democratic National Convention. I attempted to view November through a lens of Realpolitik, and looking at Obama’s coronation last night through those same lenses, I believe Obama did very, very well for himself and the Democratic Party.

But I believe the “sure, he’s going to save the world but how will he do it and pay for it” meme being rapidly passed around through the media and through Obama’s opponents and undecideds is already and will continue to be overplayed. And while skepticism over a politician’s campaign promises is natural and necessary, should Obama be elected he would need to take a four-year nap in order to fail to deliver as spectacularly as the sitting President.

In his acceptance speech at the 2000 Republican National Convention, Bush promised that:

- He would give massive tax relief for all (how did you spend your $300?)

- He would fix Social Security while not touching it.

- He would ban late-term abortions.

- He would “protect the natural world around us.”

- He would shore up the Medicare system and “make prescription drugs available and affordable for every senior who needs them.”

- He would reduce world nuclear stockpiles.

- He would deploy a robust national anti-intercontinental ballistic missile defense shield.

- He would give American workers security and independence that no politician can ever take away.

- He would hold those who spend your tax dollars accountable.

- He would “renew the promise of America’s public schools.”

- He would give the military need better equipment, better training and better pay and respect them.

- That when he used the military “the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming.”

- He would “change the tone of Washington to one of civility and respect.”

Bush - who entered the 2000 election with a resume that is quite a bit like Obama’s but with several failed attempts to be a businessman - ran under the umbrella that “times of plenty like times of crises are tests of American character.” Few in the mainstream media were concerned with how he would accomplish these things. Few questioned if he was competent or experienced enough to accomplish his vast agenda.

A national convention is not a time for a candidate for President to keep his hopes and aspirations grounded. It is a time for soaring rhetoric and hope. And that’s what Barack Obama delivered. And in doing so, he outlined his plans in far more detail than either Bush or Bill Clinton before him.

While his promises were oft-times grandiose, I have no doubt whatsoever that a President Obama would attempt to deliver on them with far more intellectual honesty than President Bush. And history should show us that how John McCain would deliver on the campaign promises he makes next week at the Republican National Convention.

–WKW

This entry was posted on Friday, August 29th, 2008 at 6:57 am and is filed under Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.