Warm Up for the Last Debate: Thoughts from the First

Thoughts from the first debate or
"Between the idea and the reality ...lies the shadow. " - T.S. Elliot

Just around the point when Obama was fumbling with that mystic talisman that would seemingly prove his righteousness in demanding his form of peace, the bracelet of sergeant Jopek, the Senator from Illinois said "No U.S. soldier ever dies in vain because they’re carrying out the missions of their commander in chief. And we honor all the service that they’ve provided." It was an odd turn of phrase, perhaps the fault of a man unused to speaking in terms appropriate to military service, but did the Senator mean to suggest that the value of our soldier’s sacrifices was proportional to their fealty to the orders of their ultimate commander? That sort of sentiment seems more at home in an autocracy, where, as a representative of the will of the people or as a reflection of personal over institutional loyalty, soldiers swear their allegiance to their leader rather then to their homeland. American soldiers fight for "their country", for “the republic”, for “freedom”, or more simply, for the "folks back home" or "for the man next to them." They do not fight for the whim, or desires, of their leader, not as the legions fought for Caesar, and not even as the British fight for their Queen. Ours is a republic, our soldiers fight, or are said to fight, for the maintenance of our democratic institutions and our freedom. And the "we" used in the second sentence, does Senator Obama presume to speak as the embodiment of the nation, in the monarchicial plural, as a prince would?
Now, I would have left these phrases alone (one doesn't like to parse, and it should be said that the words of any man can be taken out of context) if they didn't speak to the duality of the Obama phenomenon. On the one hand we have Obama the avatar of change, the light worker, the capsule of hope for a nation that yearns to end division, to bring about righteous change and to be loved, again, among the countries; On the other their is the man, of flesh and blood; the enigma, the sphinx, a community organizer who accomplished nothing, a lecturer who never wrote, and a Senator who never voted. His plans are ever shifting, ephemeral; does anyone soberly imagine that he can bring his health care through? Some of his plans are at best at best cheap bribes, 500 dollars to each taxpayer. But then there is that awesome pride, the fake presidential seal, the acceptance among roman columns looming out over 60,000 eager acolytes, and the already placed transition team. "We are the change we have been waiting for" meaningless, except if "he" is that change. One of the great dangers democracies have always faced is that of the demagogue, whose paltry record, clear voice and deep charisma lacerate the people into believing that they are electing more then simply a politician.
Remember, you may vote for the dream on November 4th but it will be the man who takes office on January 20th.

To Follow Shortly: More sober reflections on the third debate. The second one need not be spoken of.