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How To Solve The Problem | 262 comments (262 topical)
yeah btd give bad advice (5.00 / 5) (#71)
by Salo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 03:59:48 PM EST
Obama comes off phoney as hell when he starts on any populist stuff.  he's a pampered Princeling and it shows.

I suggest he go back the the arc of history concept.  Something transcendent.  He does that better.

He should be David Slaying Goliath or Orpheus playing his lyre or Perseus on Bellepheron.

The nuts and bolts stuff does not suit him.  

[ Parent ]

Uprated (none / 0) (#92)
by madamab on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:05:01 PM EST
for the Greek mythological references.

You slay me, Salo. :-)

[ Parent ]

Obama only wins if he embodies (4.50 / 2) (#116)
by Salo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:10:26 PM EST
an Homeric epic.

He can't win by reading laundry lists and making it sound like Shakespeare.  Only Bill got to do that magical trick.

[ Parent ]

I am reminded, with all talk of California, (5.00 / 1) (#136)
by Capt Howdy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:16:40 PM EST
of something someone said about Grey Davis.
they said the only way he could win was to fall down a well.

[ Parent ]
The working class (5.00 / 1) (#142)
by madamab on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:19:46 PM EST
doesn't read Homer.

They read Louis L'Amour.

That's why Bush beat Gore.

[ Parent ]

Homer Simpson (5.00 / 3) (#159)
by Capt Howdy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:22:50 PM EST
maybe

[ Parent ]
Oh Captain (5.00 / 2) (#172)
by kmblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:26:02 PM EST
My Captain!
You made me laugh again!
Not easy these days.
Take a bow, you animal. ;)

[ Parent ]
that one was so obvious (none / 0) (#186)
by Capt Howdy on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:29:28 PM EST
I am suprised no one beat me to it.

[ Parent ]
I totally disagree. I know many working class... (5.00 / 1) (#219)
by alexei on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:40:33 PM EST
people who have read the "classics". For example, I worked in surveying and as a construction inspector and worked with many construction workers.  We had great discussions on classical literature, biographies, science, history, etc.  This is a "typical" put down of working class Americans and frankly, it is insinuating the terrible and hateful slur, "white trash".  I am sick and tired that it is ok to denigrate white people because of their economic and job situations.

BTW, the Homer Simpson comment is even worse.  I can tell you that I have spoken with many of post graduate degreed who love that show.

[ Parent ]

the illiad (5.00 / 2) (#234)
by Salo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:46:42 PM EST
is a thumping blood curdler.

I particularly liked the duel between Hector and Achilles-- where Achilles armour was bouncing off good killing spear throws. Hector starts getting horrified that his best ain't cutting it. Total abject horror that the better man in every sense was going to lose.

It must a have been a "penny dreadful" in it's own day.

A good song ruined by PhDs.

[ Parent ]

It's written by such folks, I believe (none / 0) (#237)
by Lysis on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:49:11 PM EST
The Simpsons is absolutely brilliant, or at least it was during its nineties peak.  I didn't get a good chunk of the jokes until I was in college.  I remember being in my Contemporary Philosophy class and going, "Oh.  That's who Wittgenstein is."

[ Parent ]
They liked Saving Private Ryan (none / 0) (#188)
by Salo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:29:30 PM EST
The Illiad is a battle on a beach too. Lots of skull crushing and snapped limbs.

Same narrative structure too.  Hanks and Hector die.

[ Parent ]

Nothing new (none / 0) (#196)
by kmblue on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:31:42 PM EST
under the sun!

[ Parent ]
I don't agree (none / 0) (#227)
by spit on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:43:49 PM EST
I think he's already got most of the folks he can get with that "trajectory of history" kind of thing.

Now, I don't want to see Obama out there duck hunting, either -- he's got to avoid looking too blatantly pandery. But he's got to show that he really sympathizes with the working class, particularly outside of urban areas (I think he's probably got the urban vote pretty well at this point). He can't do that with Odysseus, IMO, when most of the working class is doing a more Sisyphean gig. There's "Legendary and cool", and then there's its close friend "Out of touch" -- the problem being that "Out of touch" is a favorite, well worn narrative against us that has worked for quite a while with a chunk of the suburban & rural working class, so it's easy to set up again.

He's got a sense of humor, he should use it more. He needs to get more specific on economics, make himself look better than McCain early on that front. And he needs to move away from the gigantic university crowds, IMO. I want motivated youth voters, but he's got to show that he can relate well to more different kinds of folks well outside of that scene.

[ Parent ]

I didn't suggest the Odyssy (none / 0) (#236)
by Salo on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:48:53 PM EST
I just want to caution against stuff that is clearly out of his character.

[ Parent ]
On that, we totally agree (5.00 / 1) (#244)
by spit on Thu May 08, 2008 at 04:54:18 PM EST
The worst mistake Democrats usually make is trying to mold our candidates into personae that they simply cannot convincingly portray.

[ Parent ]

How To Solve The Problem | 262 comments (262 topical)

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