Obama Drama

i guess i just don't know where i fall on the barack obama in 2008 thing.

i mean, obviously, i think the man's incredible. he's a liberal progressive that appeals to moderates on both the right and left. he'd be a terrific president, and his wife and children would restore the first family to worldwide prominence, just as he would restore both the presidency and the u.s. to worldwide admiration again.

so yes i said yes i will yes support him 1000%.

but i wonder if it's the right time. surely we can all agree with dick durbin that obama's sitting in the senate for four more years isn't going to make him a better president. i don't think it will diminish his ability or standing or willingness to be president, either.

but i have reservations for selfish reasons. i want obama around for longer than just another 10 years. think about it -- if he runs and is victorious in 2008 and then wins reelection in 2012, by 2016 he'd be gone. sure, he could -- and very likely would -- have a clintonesque presence after his two terms were over, but i don't think there are many liberals and moderates among who wouldn't trade in what bill has accomplished since 2000 for his having been in office for the past six years. i'd trade every aids-drug agreement and investment program in third world countries for another year of the clinton presidency.

so if barack stays in the senate and gains seniority and continues to be a national leader on really important issues -- and then runs for and wins the presidency -- we could have another 20 or more years with obama leading the democrats.

i have to admit, though, that every time i think of obama running in 2008 i get very excited. tingly even.

and maybe that's what america needs now, at this moment. an RFK type of leader who has the ability to rouse the better angels in all of us in working toward a common good.

maybe what america needs now is a truly great leader. if that's the case, we could not do any better than this once-in-a-generation candidate.