Friday, July 4, 2008

Buyer's Remorse, Osric-of-Record Edition

Ha. Money quote, with inserted gloss:

We are not shocked when a candidate moves to the center for the general election. But [we are shocked, shocked that] Mr. Obama’s shifts are striking because he was the candidate who proposed to change the face of politics, the man of passionate convictions who did not play old political games.

There are still vital differences between Mr. Obama and Senator John McCain on issues like the war in Iraq, taxes, health care and Supreme Court nominations. We don’t want any “redefining” on these big questions. This country needs change it can believe in.

Thank goodness we didn't choose the vicious woman who was dragging us all into the gutter. Thank goodness we did, instead, choose the avatar of the new, all shiny and networked. Thank goodness we defended the bully pulpit of the Cassandra of CDS. And thank goodness we cling -- even in our shock and disappointment, and with just the slightest touch of clingy bitterness -- to the most important elements of this drama: that is, the words and phrases of the Precious. Thank goodness they remain our North Star... so that we hold onto -- no, we won't let go of -- his proposal "to change the face of politics," his passionately declared convictions not to "play old political games," and most of all, the reality, the substance and the promise of the transformative words: "change [the nation and we] can believe in."

Without those words, what would we have to light our way?

So, let me get this straight. The problem isn't with those who purported that they really, really saw and loved the emperor's new clothes. The problem is that he described them so beautifully.

No comments: