Going Long

John Judis goes long -- and brilliantly -- on the subject of Barack Obama, putting him not just in the recent tradition of reformist political figures, but a much older "long cycle" American tradition of a search for Adam-like figures who promise to start things over anew. Judis captures the promise of Obama, but also a lot of his peril.

Comments

How archetypal of him!

Just out of curiosity, what mythical American figure is our current President supposed to be embodying?

Posted by James Gary | February 25, 2008 11:53 AM

Babe the blue ox?

Posted by phil | February 25, 2008 12:02 PM

It seems to be a very clever and elegant piece but in a time when the American and in turn global economy seems on the brink of a major currency and inflationary crisis, when world oil production on which our standard of living depends may be near its peak, when Iraq is already embroiled in a sectarian civil war and a good part of the Arab world and Muslim Central Asia - including nuclear-armed Pakistan - is also threatened with instability by weak and corrupt governance, sagging economies and Islamic extremism, when America's fiscal solvency is nearly at serious risk from military and entitlement spending, when tens of millions of Americans don't have health insurance, when a country run by right-wing religious cranks (for the first time) may be a few years from having a nuclear weapon, when a number of interconnected global environmental crises threaten habits, species, water, air, and climate stability why is a "clean break" from the politics of race now the most important issue in this election?

Posted by Linus | February 25, 2008 12:13 PM

Re-read the article, Linus. Judis is identifying a recurring pattern in American politics that has to do with "starting over." (Ironically, the promise of the new can be at the same time a celebration of American tradition, since America has been promising perpetual renewal for several centuries now.)

Race is one part of that. It's a visible part, but it's not the most important part.

And of course, policy matters more than American myth. Sure -- no kiddin'. But Judis is explaining why this particular candidate is succeeding and might get a chance to try to address policy.

Posted by Ted | February 25, 2008 12:21 PM

I do appreciate this:

when a country run by right-wing religious cranks (for the first time) may be a few years from having a nuclear weapon

But I thought we already had nuclear weapons?

Posted by Ted | February 25, 2008 12:25 PM