Comments on: Decisions, decisions…

By: Aaryn

Aaryn — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:00:19 +0000

You bring up a really valid point, Karol. It’s a double -edged sword, if you will, and part of the reason I felt so awful when I didn’t vote for her yesterday. I like Hilary because she has experience in both foreign and domestic policy, as well as a nearly inhuman resilience to horrific and unfair mudslinging. But Obama offers the hope of something that I don’t dare believe exists but, after this past 7-plus years, am desperately needing to. I hate to say it but that appeals to my emotional side. Ultimately, it was something in Andrew Sullivan’s piece that swayed me: the idea that a brown skinned man with the name Barack Hussein Obama could offer up a different view of America to the rest of the world and perhaps begin to repair the damage done by BushCo. I think we could use that right now. And, when it comes down to it, this vote was only the primary and Clinton did well. If she is the candidate in November, I will vote for her proudly and without reserve.

By: Karol

Karol — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:42:33 +0000

So…we don’t vote for Hillary because we fear a woman can not get elected? Perhaps this is true because we’ve all bought into that fear. I understand the dilemma; I stood in the voting booth forever yesterday before finally filling in an oval, but to use that as a reason not to vote for her seems like a self-fulfilling prophecy.

By: Tootsie Farklepants

Tootsie Farklepants — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:12:13 +0000

I hope we’re wrong too. You aren’t the first person (there have been many) that I’ve encountered that is (was) literally undecided between Obama and Clinton. I wavered back and forth the last few months and particularly the last few weeks. I finally cast my vote for Obama today for 2 reasons…1) the sense of hope I was filled with after watching his speech at the 2004 DNC, and 2) because I think a man has more of a chance to be elected (which is an unfortunate belief).

I’ll be happy with either of them, frankly.

By: Melanie at BeanPaste

Melanie at BeanPaste — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:30:09 +0000

I attended an Obama rally on Saturday (in Boise, Idaho of all places) and he still has my vote. I wrote a weepy, earnest, fangirl-ish post about it. I watched fifteen thousand (!) Idahoans fill an arena and was astounded that any Democrat could achieve that kind of turn-out in a state that is described as the reddest of the red.

And that Atlantic piece brilliantly cuts to the heart of the matter: in a dangerously divisive, embattled country, a candidate like Obama is our best hope for healing and change.

And I like Hillary, and would love to vote for her someday, but I fear she’s simply not the candidate for today.

By: Angela

Angela — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 16:59:07 +0000

The Atlantic piece is brilliant – I actually gave it to Tom F. when it came out and we talked about it at length. Sullivan does an amazing job of tapping into broader political and societal patterns, and using them to explain why Obama could make a real difference – not just the difference that is romantically described as Camelot. I’m quickly getting over the strong nostalgic streak surrounding him, but I get why, as a campaign strategist, you would make it work for your candidate.

Sullivan even points out that the whole marketing of America to the rest of the world changes when you have a man named Barack Obama in the White House.

By: melanie

melanie — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:02:06 +0000

I feel exactly like you do on so many key points Aaryn. I actually cried when Edwards pulled out! How silly is that? And now I’m left with this dilema on who to choose. I have no faith in a public who put W in office for a second term. Strangely enough, I really like Clinton, but only because I loved Bill and maybe that’s the only reason. But I don’t think we’re at the point where the American public will have the confidence to vote in a woman president. So I am going to vote for Obama. The more I read about him the more I like him. Plus, like you, even though I honestly don’t believe in the system and that each and every vote counts, this year, if it really DOES count, then I need to make mine count. And as crazy as it sounds, maybe with Oprah backing him, just maybe all those women who watch her will go and vote for him. Crazier things have happened.

By: EastGirlsWest » Blog Archive » We Live in Interesting Times

EastGirlsWest » Blog Archive » We Live in Interesting Times — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:21:44 +0000

[...] friends, all of them female, are in the same hand-wringing cycle of hope, pride, fear and guilt that leaves [...]

By: Mrs. G.

Mrs. G. — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:36:25 +0000

What does it say about me that now that Edwards is out of the race, I am changing my mind almost daily? This is not like me. I am so conflicted. I’m glad I have quite a while to waffle. I will head over and read the article.

By: John Edwards » Blog Archive » That’s Ms. Milktoast, if you please

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:35:16 +0000

[...] aaryn belfer wrote an interesting post today on That’s Ms. Milktoast, if you pleaseHere’s a quick excerptAll of that being said, I am not voting for John Edwards…. [...]

By: alice

alice — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 02:10:16 +0000

As I see it, that article is just so much more Hillary Hating. There is a limit to the benefit Obama’s “newness” brings, and no limit to the damage that can be done by incompetence, as we’ve seen over the past eight years. I’d take him over Bush any day, but I’d take Hillary over any of them in a heartbeat.