Judah summed it up well: "If people on the left overindugled in flights of fantasy about what he might be able to do, it was because they felt like a wrongly imprisoned man walking out of solitary confinement after 8 years of sensory deprivation."
I'd agree with that sentiment. I think a lot of people were just so thoroughly sickened by Bush (and by extension, the Republican party), that they were so ready to embrace change that it became zealotry. But to quote Judah again... "As an Obama supporter I think you are overselling the situation in order to engage in unwarranted self-pity" Well, you can't really say that anyone is "overselling the situation" and then justify it with the initial quote (which, again, I totally agree with and understand). But if there wasn't a "situation", it wouldn't need a justification. What got me was the fact that, as far as I can recall... I didn't see a anyone preface their statements with, "In my opinion..." or, "I really believe that...". Those words make a *huge* difference (to me, at least). "I believe that Obama will be the change we need" is heaps different than "Obama will be the change we need". Stating unequivocally as fact (e.g "Obama will bring the change we need") something that nobody can possibly know (e.g "Obama will bring the change we need")... that's zealotry and that's what was scary to me. On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 6:40 AM, Scott Stroz <[email protected]> wrote: > > Not true. I disliked Bush as much as teh next guy. The unbridled zealotry > for Obama shown by a lot of people (some on this list) is nothgin less than > frightening to me. > > Also, didn't Oprah claim he was "The One"? > > On Wed, Feb 4, 2009 at 12:58 AM, Dana <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > > worse we are hearing about blind followers from supporters of George Bush > > > > On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 10:12 PM, Judah McAuley <[email protected]> > > wrote: > > > > > > I'm sure that there are those that felt Obama could do no wrong that > > > he really is the savior. I'm also reminded of the hagiography of Saint > > > Ronald Regan. > > > > > > I don't live in that world and I like to think that the bulk of the > > > electorate does not either. Obama is not a socialist/marxist terrorist > > > nor is he the messiah. Regan wasn't either. > > > > > > Though the thing that really bothered me was the number of people that > > > felt that way about Regan *after* his Presidency. I could understand > > > the putting someone up on a pedestal before going into office, but > > > after what Regan did? Jeez. > > > > > > There are kooks on both sides. I just don't think it is fair to be > > > taking a broad brush and painting supporters of Obama on this list > > > (who tend to be fairly intelligent overall) with the messianic fervor > > > of fringe nutjobs. And in return, I promise not to presume that anyone > > > here automatically agrees with Fred Phelps. > > > > > > Judah > > > > > > On Tue, Feb 3, 2009 at 8:46 PM, C. Hatton Humphrey < > [email protected]> > > wrote: > > >> > > >>> As an Obama supporter I think you are overselling the situation in > > >>> order to engage in unwarranted self-pity. Obama didn't position > > >>> himself as the second coming of Jesus, nor did the people that > > >>> supported him. > > >> > > >> I'll grant you that it's anecdotal but there *are* those who think > > >> that he is more than a man... > > >> There are some that referred to him in such glowing terms > > >> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB-_qUHe3HU - Farrakhan > > >> > > > http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WkA8USJcfPw/SRfcD0D9EEI/AAAAAAAAAPk/st4bPpwdVvs/s1600-h/Obamacampaignposter1.jpg > > >> Found at > > > http://obamamessiah.blogspot.com/2008/11/thy-kingdom-come-thy-will-be-done.html > > >> > > >> You can't forget this quote: > > >> http://www.entertonement.com/clips/39415/Best-Day-of-My-Life > > >> > > >> There's an interesting blog post (yes, I know what you said) from > > MotherJones: > > >> > > > http://www.motherjones.com/mojoblog/archives/2008/02/7209_barack_obamas_m.html > > >> > > >> And then there are the disturbing letters that are coming in now like > > >> this one, taken from "Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks from January > > >> 31, 2009 ( > > > http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/ethnically-speaking-larry-meeks.html > > ) > > >> > > >> From Jessica: Our new president is black, and he is in favor of > > >> abortion. The people elected him, and we should follow his policies. > > >> We should be loyal citizens and follow his example and opinions > > >> because he is smart and knows what is best for America. People like > > >> you should be silenced. > > >> > > >> Dear Jessica: I have been writing this column for almost 20 years, and > > >> during that time, I have received tens of thousands of letters. Of all > > >> the letters I ever have received, yours is by far the most chilling. > > >> > > >> I find it almost unbelievable that a person born in this country ever > > >> would allow himself or herself to follow a leader blindly, without > > >> ever questioning the leader's motives and policies. > > >> > > >> What is worse is the fact that you want others to do the same. This > > >> kind of thinking is what allowed leaders around the world to go > > >> astray. They always could count on sycophants to follow them, > > >> regardless of their positions. > > >> > > >> I am astounded that Adolf Hitler could continue to lead and the people > > >> still followed his directions, when they all, almost universally, knew > > >> he was wrong and mad. > > >> > > >> I pray that as Americans, we always will question our leaders and hold > > >> them accountable for their decisions. > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Adobe® ColdFusion® 8 software 8 is the most important and dramatic release to date Get the Free Trial http://ad.doubleclick.net/clk;207172674;29440083;f Archive: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/message.cfm/messageid:287320 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-community/subscribe.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.5
