Comments on: As Others See Us: Godfrey Hodgson on the Democrats http://www.radioopensource.org/as-others-see-us-godfrey-hodgson-on-the-democrats/ Christopher Lydon in conversation on arts, ideas and politics Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:35:29 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: potter http://www.radioopensource.org/as-others-see-us-godfrey-hodgson-on-the-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-162356 potter Sun, 31 Aug 2008 21:18:59 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1281#comment-162356 This is not the first time I have heard such a glowing appraisal of Obama's book which means I should probably read it. I don't think we will know exactly what Obama will bring until he is in the driver's seat and has to actually deal with conditions, but there is a huge difference between McCain and Obama. This is apparent and is going to be a real test on the electorate once again. I am dismayed that it is so close in the polls and I suspect racism ( I agree totally subterranean) is a factor (unfortunately). So I hope that those moments at the last night of the convention, where the camera panned to all those teary faces, will stretch and infect the country as a whole. I fear that the qualities of small-mindedness and malleability will prevail in the general public too busy "getting and spending". People have got to care enough to focus on this and get out to vote. That said, if they do, it's still scary to me to have to face the possibility, after 8 years of Bush/Cheney, that the majority in this country will bring about more of the same or worse. This was a very interesting discussion and I hope that you mean it Chris about having Hodgson back b/c I would love to hear a conversation about FDR and more about how he made the presidency work. I would love to hear more about the possibility that the new sources of power are positive and the loss of some of the old are a welcome loss. Thank you. Hello Sidewalker! This is not the first time I have heard such a glowing appraisal of Obama’s book which means I should probably read it. I don’t think we will know exactly what Obama will bring until he is in the driver’s seat and has to actually deal with conditions, but there is a huge difference between McCain and Obama. This is apparent and is going to be a real test on the electorate once again. I am dismayed that it is so close in the polls and I suspect racism ( I agree totally subterranean) is a factor (unfortunately). So I hope that those moments at the last night of the convention, where the camera panned to all those teary faces, will stretch and infect the country as a whole. I fear that the qualities of small-mindedness and malleability will prevail in the general public too busy “getting and spending”. People have got to care enough to focus on this and get out to vote. That said, if they do, it’s still scary to me to have to face the possibility, after 8 years of Bush/Cheney, that the majority in this country will bring about more of the same or worse.

This was a very interesting discussion and I hope that you mean it Chris about having Hodgson back b/c I would love to hear a conversation about FDR and more about how he made the presidency work. I would love to hear more about the possibility that the new sources of power are positive and the loss of some of the old are a welcome loss.

Thank you.

Hello Sidewalker!

]]> By: sidewalker http://www.radioopensource.org/as-others-see-us-godfrey-hodgson-on-the-democrats/comment-page-1/#comment-162355 sidewalker Sat, 30 Aug 2008 02:17:21 +0000 http://www.radioopensource.org/?p=1281#comment-162355 Great discussion. The conversation linked below on American society, also by outsiders (Canadians) took place in 2006, but it is an interesting supplement to Chris' discussion with Hodgson. http://writerscafe.ca/book_blogs/writers/michael-adams_american-backlash.php It also supports Hodgson's observation that even with all the talk of change, nothing seriously threatens the 'conservative ascendancy' nor will it as long as the disaffected and unengaged at home and the ever lurking "terrorists" remain fuel for the fear that is the inevitable twin to a distorted and belligerent practice of freedom. Great discussion.

The conversation linked below on American society, also by outsiders (Canadians) took place in 2006, but it is an interesting supplement to Chris’ discussion with Hodgson.

http://writerscafe.ca/book_blogs/writers/michael-adams_american-backlash.php

It also supports Hodgson’s observation that even with all the talk of change, nothing seriously threatens the ‘conservative ascendancy’ nor will it as long as the disaffected and unengaged at home and the ever lurking “terrorists” remain fuel for the fear that is the inevitable twin to a distorted and belligerent practice of freedom.

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