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election
February 2009 
What are you projecting onto the candidates?
Posted on Nov 3rd, 2008
by 
Scott
Scott
I happen to be voting for Sen. Obama for President, but I don't agree with all of his policies, and I don't think he's going to accomplish everything he's campaigned on. But I see so much passion behind the support for him, I can't help but wonder... what are people projecting onto him?
Do they think he'll make the economy get better quickly?
Do they think the other countries in the world will just start agreeing with us on everything because he'll talk them into it?
Do they think that Congress will suddenly start doing things that are in the long-term interest of the country rather than the short-term interest of the elected members?
Do they think he represents some new movement of Spirit in the world?
Do they think he'll get the Republicans to stop attacking Democrats?
Do they think he'll get all of his policies enacted?
Do they think Congress will do whatever he wants?
Do they think there won't be any foreign policy crises?
So... I have to ask you: what are you projecting onto your candidate? What do you think he'll be able to do that the other candidate won't be able to do? Will you be disappointed when you find out that he's a serious political animal?
No point to this... just a question to think about as you vote and watch the transition period.
Do they think he'll make the economy get better quickly?
Do they think the other countries in the world will just start agreeing with us on everything because he'll talk them into it?
Do they think that Congress will suddenly start doing things that are in the long-term interest of the country rather than the short-term interest of the elected members?
Do they think he represents some new movement of Spirit in the world?
Do they think he'll get the Republicans to stop attacking Democrats?
Do they think he'll get all of his policies enacted?
Do they think Congress will do whatever he wants?
Do they think there won't be any foreign policy crises?
So... I have to ask you: what are you projecting onto your candidate? What do you think he'll be able to do that the other candidate won't be able to do? Will you be disappointed when you find out that he's a serious political animal?
No point to this... just a question to think about as you vote and watch the transition period.
Access: Public
I think his very election will let the world know that Americans are capable of electing a person with a world centric view. He can begin to heal some of the wounds that years of Bush behavior has created. He's a transformational figure like Colin Powell said. Imagine that Colin Powell even called him “transformational”. He is handicapped by the economy and he isn't at all perfect. He's been expressing the most inclusive and hopeful perspective.
Yes, and he can also undo some of the good that the Bush Administration has done around the world… unprecedented investment in health issues in Africa, establishment of Africom, very skillful use of six-party talks for North Korea, not overreacting to Russia, etc. Sure, Obama seems like the better choice this time around, and I'm voting for him, but I hear you projecting things like “healing wounds” and “transformational” and I ask if that's true or are you projecting it? It might be true, but I'm not sure that's the best way to approach a presidential administration. Reality will set in quickly, and after what I saw the reaction was to Gov. Patrick in Massachusetts (as if people were expecting better from a former Director of Texaco) I just want to ask if people are being honest about their expectations and projections…
How to explain those things that are intuitive? Colin Powell said “transformational”.
I agree. Am I projecting? How could one not project? Is it true? That's to be seen. Am I intuitive, somewhat psychic and prone to hope? Yes. I voted for Patrick, but never expected all that much of him. I don't expect anything specific right away from Obama. He's no messiah. Black man wins tonight in America changes the whole game for America and the rest of the world.