There's Pith in That Patriotism

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08:51 pm July 2nd, 2008

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			De File Does Collecting Make You Feel Dirty?

cbertsch


	There's Pith in That Patriotism
	This comes from a Washington Post story about a speech Barack Obama gave in Colorado Springs -- a Republican stronghold -- in which he advocated national service: Obama did not shy from partisan controversy as he spoke here of Sept. 11, 2001, and Americans' readiness to serve after the attacks. "We were ready to step into the strong current of history and to answer a new call for our country, but the call never came," he said. "Instead of a call to service, we were asked to go shopping." I don't know whether Obama himself wrote that last sentence -- he seems to be writing more of his speeches than any candidate since Woodrow Wilson -- but whoever did deserves a reward. Repeat after that Master Card campaign: "Priceless." Tags: politics Current Location: 85704

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	Comments

	From: tommix	Date: July 3rd, 2008 04:02 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

Haven't I posted this story before?

http://www.newsweek.com/id/84756

Obama writes his speeches, but he has an editor.

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	From: cbertsch	Date: July 3rd, 2008 04:04 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

But it gets harder and harder to write one's speeches, with all the demands for one's time. Impressive if he's still doing it that way. Very impressive.

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	From: _luaineach	Date: July 3rd, 2008 04:31 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

Any second now, amidst his calls to service and his support of religions, is going to come that whole wacky thousand points of light thing....

[and i am REALLY bitchy because of Rock Band and farking Aerosmith. And drunk, too! That's when all my most ... comments come!]

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	From: cbertsch	Date: July 3rd, 2008 07:01 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

But at least he will have written the line!

It's hard for me to separate my sense of what works strategically from what I would actually want as a strategy. Thus, even as Obama steers for the center, I find myself willingly along for the ride.

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	From: cpratt	Date: July 3rd, 2008 04:40 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

"Shop as usual... and avoid panic buying."

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	From: cbertsch	Date: July 3rd, 2008 07:02 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

Except that lots of people were already panic buying to begin with. . .

:-)

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From: catfishvegas	Date: July 3rd, 2008 09:07 am (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

That also could start hinting at the longer-term problems that "shopping" creates. There is plenty enough "stuff" in the country already, plenty stuffed and hidden in closets and tossed in trash cans and improperly discarded.
The whole notion of using less, acquiring less and consuming less hardly warrants a flicker in any sort of discussion about the future of this country.
But the fact remains: I do better for the world by continuing to get around in my 1991 Nissan than I could ever do by upgrading to a Prius - at least for another decade.

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	From: cbertsch	Date: July 3rd, 2008 12:51 pm (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

Right. Buffalo Exchange!

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	From: schencka	Date: July 8th, 2008 09:26 pm (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)
	bookman's and twice as nice

Oh, how I miss the Tucson used-goods market!

I believe Bill Maher first used the "we were asked to go shopping" line. But remember: that gag line really did come out of W43's mouth -- he owns the patent.

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From: babyiwasshot	Date: July 3rd, 2008 06:00 pm (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

"Instead of a call to service, we were asked to go shopping."

I resent that; I mean.....look, I did go shopping, but I purchased a flag and TWO "support our troops" ribbons*

*NOTE: This is irony. I think that you're capable of getting it, but experience has shown me that other people in this town have difficutly processing it.

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	From: chefxh	Date: July 3rd, 2008 08:18 pm (UTC)		(LINK TO SPECIFIC ENTRY)

*boggle* Wow. What a turn of phrase.

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	11 comments or Leave a comment

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