Letter of the week, 11/10/08: Obama brings hope

[David]

Obama brings hope
Editor:

In 1968 I was a college student. It was a scary period in our history because of the Viet Nam war and, at the same time, it was an exciting era because of people like Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King. This country was changing in many positive ways and we Baby Boomers were in the thick of it.

Then came the assassinations of Reverend King and Senator Kennedy and we were brought back to earth with a crash and a realization that the changes we wanted could only come at a very high price and with a lot of work. At the time of Senator Kennedy's death Mary McGrory, a reporter for the Washington Post, said to future Senator Daniel Moynihan, "We'll never laugh again." Moynihan replied "Mary, we'll laugh again, but we'll never be young again."

For the last forty years this country has been getting older in spirit and many of our leaders have been poor role models. Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush were not leaders of whom we could always be proud. However, the election of Barack Obama on Tuesday has given me hope that we can regain the spirit of our youth, tempered with the wisdom of our experience. If Moynihan were here today, I believe he'd agree.

WILLIAM HILLIKER, SOUTHINGTON

[alwaysright]

Obama brings hope
Editor:

In 1968 I was a college student. It was a scary period in our history because of the Viet Nam war and, at the same time, it was an exciting era because of people like Senators Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy and the Reverend Martin Luther King. This country was changing in many positive ways and we Baby Boomers were in the thick of it.

Then came the assassinations of Reverend King and Senator Kennedy and we were brought back to earth with a crash and a realization that the changes we wanted could only come at a very high price and with a lot of work. At the time of Senator Kennedy's death Mary McGrory, a reporter for the Washington Post, said to future Senator Daniel Moynihan, "We'll never laugh again." Moynihan replied "Mary, we'll laugh again, but we'll never be young again."

For the last forty years this country has been getting older in spirit and many of our leaders have been poor role models. Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush were not leaders of whom we could always be proud. However, the election of Barack Obama on Tuesday has given me hope that we can regain the spirit of our youth, tempered with the wisdom of our experience. If Moynihan were here today, I believe he'd agree.

WILLIAM HILLIKER, SOUTHINGTON

after all, whats a little stain on a cheap dress compared to leading us into a war under false pretenses??? and what little dna in that stain has lots more brainpower than little george.

[Bustopher Jones]

"When Clinton Lied, Nobody Died"

[Jim N]

I see no hope in the result of this election. All I hear and see on the street and the internet is a divided country. I seen such a resurgence of racially insulting "jokes" and comments it was amazing, many even coming in from Europe. I couldn't believe that racism made such a comeback over night, then I remembered that we have outlawed free speech. Make any racial or ethnic comments and you suffer consequences. People didn't want to suffer consequences so they shut up. Racism in the US did not disappear it went underground. I think it's boiling just below the surface ready to erupt. 4% of the popular vote is not a mandate. It is really going to be interesting and scary to see how race plays out in this. Is a predominately white congress going to back a black president? How are the congressman and senators in the states and districts that backed McCain going to survive the midterm elections especially if they back his policies and the country doesn't improve? If any good is going to come from this election I think it is way down the road. This maybe the starting of a new civil war. Whatever comes I don't see peace and good feelings in the here and now. While I realize that this is probably not a popular view, I feel it is a realistic view without rose colored glasses. To save some responses while I do believe in the innate goodness of mankind, I feel it has been so subjugated and buried by this materialistic, self centered, me first society we live in it will take a major effort of will and probably several generations to resurface.

[rapuda]

I'm glad Obama beat out McCain even though I feel Obama will unfairly tax people who earn over 250k a year. I truly believe he offers hope and a chance for our country to do better. I also believe he will need time to bring change and to correct the mess we're in. I don't think we'll see a noticeable change for at least 2 years. By then Obama's critics will have pointed out numerous examples of why Obama is a failure. I want Obama to be given a chance to do what he says he can do without Rush and company trying to bury him every chance they get. This country has zero patience. It wants everything yesterday. This country is in a mess that will take time to correct.
I heard from a financial adviser that our forecasted debt for next year will be larger than the debt we've had from all previous years, combined. It's going to take cooperation, good leadership, and time to fix our problems. That is why I've said in previous posts that whoever wins will be a one term president. The president will be blamed for everything during his re-election bid, and because Americans have short memories, the incumbants will pay the price.

As much as I want Obama to be given a chance to succeed, I also don't want people to keep praising him like he's a savior. All I keep seeing and reading about is how great Obama is and how he's going to save the world. Lets give him a chance to prove what he is without praising or degrading him.

[iwantwallingfordbetter]

Dear Dear Jim N…4% not a mandate, where did 4% come from? Remember you are not allowed to make up your own facts. Fact: Obama 53% to McCain 46 % difference of 7%, Fact: 12,000,000 more voted in this election than in 2004. Fact: Obama total votes 66 million McCain 58 million. The mandate was that Obama won the election and won it big…what was the electoral college vote, oh ya 364 to 163, is that a mandate? Give the guy a chance to lead. You and the other right wingers just cannot give someone a chance, remember we gave President Bush 2 chances, did he come through for the Americans, I don’t think so. He put us in debt to our foreheads, he has us in 2 wars with out a plan to end either (just leave the mess to the next one in charge); the current decider has made some very poor decisions. Let’s give the next decider a chance. As far as the race issues and the jokes, they would come no matter who was in office. There will always be racism in this country and around the world, but at what level does the racism play is the question. Remember you do not have to be white to be a raciest. Also remember that most did not vote based on color, most voted for HOPE and the future of our country. The republicans have taken this country down over the past 8 years. Most of the hate, negative comments and division of the country is coming from the far right wingnuts.

It was time for change and Obama provided the hope and vision for change, that’s what was voted for. I for one will wait and give the guy a chance to prove that he can deliver on the words he spoke and his vision for the future. You should do the same.

[alwaysright]

Dear Dear Jim N…4% not a mandate, where did 4% come from? Remember you are not allowed to make up your own facts. Fact: Obama 53% to McCain 46 % difference of 7%, Fact: 12,000,000 more voted in this election than in 2004. Fact: Obama total votes 66 million McCain 58 million. The mandate was that Obama won the election and won it big…what was the electoral college vote, oh ya 364 to 163, is that a mandate? Give the guy a chance to lead. You and the other right wingers just cannot give someone a chance, remember we gave President Bush 2 chances, did he come through for the Americans, I don’t think so. He put us in debt to our foreheads, he has us in 2 wars with out a plan to end either (just leave the mess to the next one in charge); the current decider has made some very poor decisions. Let’s give the next decider a chance. As far as the race issues and the jokes, they would come no matter who was in office. There will always be racism in this country and around the world, but at what level does the racism play is the question. Remember you do not have to be white to be a raciest. Also remember that most did not vote based on color, most voted for HOPE and the future of our country. The republicans have taken this country down over the past 8 years. Most of the hate, negative comments and division of the country is coming from the far right wingnuts.

It was time for change and Obama provided the hope and vision for change, that’s what was voted for. I for one will wait and give the guy a chance to prove that he can deliver on the words he spoke and his vision for the future. You should do the same.

you'll never convince naysayers about this- but I think they should all take a cue from their predessors who once ignorantly told war protesters- Love it or leave it. Get out if you don't like it. try suicide even.

[Snakebite]

He's just a skilled motivational speaker, snake oil salesman that has duped a nation. Ever watch Oprah they are on there all the time.

He could do the same job as Bush and still sell it to this nation, and people will cry during his speeches.

[alwaysright]

He's just a skilled motivational speaker, snake oil salesman that has duped a nation. Ever watch Oprah they are on there all the time.

He could do the same job as Bush and still sell it to this nation, and people will cry during his speeches.

The best part is- that when Obama is in a room, he'll likely be one of the smartest people in that room. You certainly could never say that about little george, and McCaged either. I'd rather a smart president than a moron, or one with severe damage from being caged for 5 years.

[Snakebite]

The best part is- that when Obama is in a room, he'll likely be one of the smartest people in that room. You certainly could never say that about little george, and McCaged either. I'd rather a smart president than a moron, or one with severe damage from being caged for 5 years.
What do you have against cages, they are good for you. Now, if he was in a fishtank for 5 years I could see the problem.

Ron L Hubbard was smart too. Look at the Quack pack he developed

[alwaysright]

What do you have against cages, they are good for you. Now, if he was in a fishtank for 5 years I could see the problem.

Ron L Hubbard was smart too. Look at the Quack pack he developed


Hubbard was crazy- not really smart. any fool who thinks he can transport themselves through time and space is more wacky than a christian who actually believes in virgin birth and water to wine. Look at the map- he just gained ANOTHER electoral vote- won by millions of popular votes and will pick a mixed cabinet that might actually do something besides start wars and torture people. So, snake, get used to it.

[Snakebite]

You are correct, I am feeling all warm and fuzzy. I know I am at the beginning of something unbelievable when this morning I was in Walgreens and I gathered a group of people and led us in Kumbaya.

I don't know why, but just feeling peace and love. Must be the new president.