For better or worse, those two speeches were equally representative of America.

[kpete]

Digby:

You have an angry subset of Republicans who feel unfairly maligned by a society that's changing in ways they don't fully buy into. It's a strain in American political life that's always been around and perhaps it's because of the nature of America itself --- it's been a dynamic culture from the beginning with lots of immigrants and second chances and social mobility. And there have been sweeping social changes in the past few decades, more changes than a lot of people are able to cope with. This group is fairly represented by Palin, with her "sharp" and "forceful" call to fight for their beliefs and dissent from the consensus. She didn't make any friends among the elites of both parties yesterday, but I stand by my belief that she solidified herself in the leadership of the aggrieved Americans who cannot accept the legitimacy of their political opposition.

Obama, on the other hand, is by nature a mediator and a conciliator which is why he is effective as a president calling for national healing (and less successful at every day hand to hand political combat.) He's the embodiment of all the social changes that freak out the right and always presented himself as one who can transcend them. But they don't want the differences to be "transcended", they want them to disappear. On the other side, a whole lot of other people are desperate to see him to succeed at that and have placed their hopes in his skills to work it through. They embrace the change --- and hate the controversy <...>

I doubt this debate will ever truly end. This tension, which becomes more and less acute depending on the times, is a defining feature of our country. For better or worse, those two speeches were equally representative of America.
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/palin-and-obama-ying-and-yang-of.html

[OneGrassRoot]

1. Excellent, K&R (and sharing!) :) n/t

[Ron Green]

2. I keep shouting it over and over....

It's simply LOVE and FEAR. One is hard, the other is easy. That's why fascists use fear; it's easy. If the lower brain stem is going to be in charge, a Republican is your man.

But if our "better angels" are to guide us, we have to buy into what President Obama said last night, and be willing to work for it.

[The_Commonist]

3. Yep...

...that sounds about right.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/12/conservatives-fear-center-brain/

[DonCoquixote]

4. and that is why O is in trouble

But they don't want the differences to be "transcended", they want them to disappear.

That is the problem, we must "transcend" these differences, to climb over them, bury them, and pour cement over them so that where a trash dump once stood, there is a school and a playground. But until America is forced to look at itself honestly, these differences will never be overcome, and those who profit from suffering and prejudice will just sit back, and wait till the next election to buy.