The 2008 Presidential Elections: History in the Making
By: Paul Orogun
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Opinion
The 2008 Presidential election is indeed like no other in recent memory. In a profound sense, we are all witnesses to current history, and the outcome will probably engender a substantive transformation of modern American domestic and foreign policy initiatives.
Already marked by unforgettable mantras like: "Jack is Back", "Yes, We Can", "Yes, She Will", and other phrases that are yet to be coined, this year's presidential election has so far been truly energizing, electrifying and notable for the simultaneous convergence of race, gender and age as reflected by the top three presidential candidates.
Never again will it be said that a woman cannot run or will never be a President. Yes, it is true that other black candidates have run for President in past elections, for example, Jesse Jackson, Carol Moseley Braun, Alan Keyes, and Al Sharpton to name just a few, but none of them in the past has proved to be as formidable, awe-inspiring nor even captured the imagination of so many young people throughout the country and beyond.
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign represents a pivotal shift in the history of this country. Henceforth, no woman or girl can feel that the highest office in the land is the exclusive preserve of men. To be sure, women have been elected presidents in other countries such as Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, Philippines and Liberia, to name a few, but the candidacy and probability of Hillary's presidency over the most powerful country in the world would indeed constitute an event defining moment in the annals of modern American politics.
By the same token, John McCain's Republican presidential nomination is also unique and presents a novelty to established conventional wisdom on presidential politics. If McCain wins the November presidential elections, at age 72 years, he will represent the first elderly citizen to be elected to the highest office.
Although a Republican, McCain exhibits a streak of liberal-leaning tendencies on several contentious social issues, and indeed, he seems to be a maverick in terms of his ideological orientation on public policy issues.
Already marked by unforgettable mantras like: "Jack is Back", "Yes, We Can", "Yes, She Will", and other phrases that are yet to be coined, this year's presidential election has so far been truly energizing, electrifying and notable for the simultaneous convergence of race, gender and age as reflected by the top three presidential candidates.
Never again will it be said that a woman cannot run or will never be a President. Yes, it is true that other black candidates have run for President in past elections, for example, Jesse Jackson, Carol Moseley Braun, Alan Keyes, and Al Sharpton to name just a few, but none of them in the past has proved to be as formidable, awe-inspiring nor even captured the imagination of so many young people throughout the country and beyond.
Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign represents a pivotal shift in the history of this country. Henceforth, no woman or girl can feel that the highest office in the land is the exclusive preserve of men. To be sure, women have been elected presidents in other countries such as Argentina, Chile, Nicaragua, Philippines and Liberia, to name a few, but the candidacy and probability of Hillary's presidency over the most powerful country in the world would indeed constitute an event defining moment in the annals of modern American politics.
By the same token, John McCain's Republican presidential nomination is also unique and presents a novelty to established conventional wisdom on presidential politics. If McCain wins the November presidential elections, at age 72 years, he will represent the first elderly citizen to be elected to the highest office.
Although a Republican, McCain exhibits a streak of liberal-leaning tendencies on several contentious social issues, and indeed, he seems to be a maverick in terms of his ideological orientation on public policy issues.
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Katrinka Yobotz
posted 4/25/08 @ 7:32 PM CST
MUST SEE! PATRIOTIC! INSPIRING! HOPE FOR AMERICA!
Speech by Alan Keyes at the Consitution Party National Convention this afternoon.
Alan Keyes Constitution Party Speech
Link: http://archives. (Continued…)
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