A few weeks back a ran across a brilliant article in the Atlantic monthly about Obama, the culture wars and how you end them. Check it out. It is by the brilliant and often snarky Andrew Sullivan I highly recommend to anyone who wants to understand how our politics got so divisive.

Also I’d like to stop praise John Edwards and offer my sympathies to all of his supporters. I have liked John since the first time I saw him on Hardball in 2003 and the first vote I ever cast was for him in the last California primary. As someone who grew up in the “other America” I believe passionately in his call to combat poverty and strengthen the middle-class. I support Obama because I believe he is uniquely equipped to heal the country and persuade Americans to believe in a progressive vision, but I very much hope to see every part of Edward’s fight to end poverty enacted. If like me you are someone who was torn between Edwards and Obama, I hope you will come and help us fight for change.

Lastly since it is looking more and more like McCain is going to be the republican nominee I thought I’d suggest how we beat him. You have to present a absolute contrast with him, make it night and day (normally I’d use the phrase black and white but I figured people might read too much into it). You say he’s supported the war from day one and we’ve opposed it from day one. You say he’s the past and we’re the future. You say he’s four more years of George Bush foreign policy, Washington establishment, and struggling middle class families and were change. You need some one young and inspiring, who can compete with him among independents and moderates.

It just so happens Obama is uniquely suited to compete with McCain. For better or worse he is “change” and Hillary is “experience.” The problem is that is impossible to beat McCain in an experience argument. McCain is an honest to god war hero, has been in the Senate since I was born and has sponsored lord know how many McCain-Some Democrat bills. If Hillary tries to say how she has “35 years of experience” or is “tested and ready”all McCain has to do is talk about how 35 years ago he was being tested in the Hanoi Hilton. Likewise we need someone who can run even with him among independents and Hillary has a net negative approval rating among independents. I like Hillary, I greatly miss the days of Bill’s presidency, but the simple fact of the matter is she is ill equipped to beat McCain and if she is elected the country would be so polarized it would be impossible to govern. Obama is how we win in November and pass a progressive agenda.

P.S. For those fellow West Wing addicts out there, Dule Hill (aka Charlie) has endorsed Obama and is currently stumping for us in Minnesota.

homes for sell roanoke va 24018 test