How On Earth Did Bama Get Elected?

HBO is running this thing on the Bama campaign, starting in 2007 pre-Iowa. There's some man-on-the-street stuff where people say things like, "Who's that," and, "I never heard of him," and this gem from a younger person, "Oh wait, is he African-American? Then I think it would be cool if he was our next president."

And there are the wonderful staffer stories that all begin, "I remember the first time I met Barack..." Followed by the meeting with all the young staffers where one of his campaign managers quotes his boss as having said, "I wanna do it for the kids."

Hook, line, and sinker.

And then there's the 9 year old child working phone scripts and getting frustrated with the people on the other end of the phone. Child exploitation, anyone?

Young people are starved for attention, and to feel like they belong to something greater. It's beyond debate that Bama's campaign was political genius, and when you look at the behind the scenes, objectively, you see just how cognizant Bara was of his place in the race and his opportunities at every turn. There are scenes of him discussing what to wear for a rural stop in Iowa, and then later about how to make the more spectacular entrance. And he's doing a great job acting like a normal person enjoying a day with his family at the Iowa State Fair.

But it boils down to the youth of America, their energy and idealism - that's what got him elected. Young people don't vote was the conventional wisdom and in 2008 that notion was blown to pieces. There's Axelrod and Gibbs, pinning their hopes on the young. "They think they're changing the world, and God bless 'em." But what, beyond the term "change", would they be affecting? By employing a man without experience, or understanding, or gravitas to be the most powerful person on Earth, they have sentenced this country to flounder in the wake of his ineffectiveness.

Here's the painful truth moment: Barack Obama played on the insecurity of young people. Who could go to a party and be the only one who didn't vote, or worse, voted against Bama. Only those secure in their own beliefs and mature beyond their years. An insecure electorate, beguiled by an arrogant fool of a candidate, have caused this mess.

Luckily, young people reliably don't vote - 2008 was an anomaly. People with life experience, who aren't naive and overwhelmed simultaneously by hormone-saturated arrogance and insecurity and blind, unsubstantiated idealism, will once again restore reason to the democratic process. Now we must hope the damage can be undone. At least so far, Bama's ineptness is serving the country well, and if the Democrats' bumbling can continue until next year we have a chance to turn Bama into a lame duck in about the same amount of time as it took him to get the job in the first place.

Here's to hope. ;)