Obama in Washington Square

I attended the Barack Obama rally in Washington Square Park this Thursday evening entirely by accident. I meet my Mandarin tutor at a NYU building on Washington Square East (since she’s also teaches Chinese classes for NYU,) and so I was walking from the 4th St subway station towards the park when I noticed police had set up a security perimeter and cleared the park, and there were thousands of people thronging on all sides. When I found out that Obama was going to be speaking there later on, I decided to go and listen after my lesson, but not having one of the tickets printed out from the website I went and stood in one of the outer, grassy areas of the park on the NW corner, from which I could just barely see Obama’s spotlit back as he gave his speech.

And it was a good speech. Not, admittedly, very specific or detailed, but I consider that simply part of the format of an event that one would classify as a general rally, and not a speech targeted at a particular group-although he was smart enough to give a number of nods to both the financial plight of college students, as well as his days living in New York, hanging out in that very park, and going to nearby bars in the Village (although he did not mention, in the heart of NYU, that he had been studying at Columbia at the time.) I read enough political news so that I wasn’t particularly interested on what he had to say about issues, since I’ve already heard the positions, but it was impressive and rewarding to see how well the man can work a crowd when he’s doing well. I’m not at all a fan of attending political events like rallies, protests, marches, and so on, but I am glad that I saw this one, and as a bonus I got to watch it with my friend Charles (yes guys, Charles from Rits) and that I met up with my friend Imara and a couple of his friends from political science class afterwards so there was someone to discuss it with.

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Here is some video of the speech, courtesy of Salon.com, and you can get some more in depth coverage from the Ameripolitics nerds who blog at Salon, or from the New York Times article on the event– which naturally makes a big issue out of his criticisms of Hillary Clinton, to whom he referred as “the senator from New York.” And yet, somehow we knew that he wasn’t talking about Chuck Schumer.

31 thoughts on “Obama in Washington Square”

  1. Since no one has commented on this, I would just like to say that Obama still kind of sucks and needs to stop thinking that the US can just start any wars it needs to and should publicly pledge to roll back all the Bush power-grabbing. Then maybe he’d be perfect. But since that’s kind of all he needs to do I guess I have to support him or maybe Edwards though he isnt nearly as smooth and awesome as Obama.

  2. “needs to stop thinking that the US can just start any wars it needs to”
    I have no idea what you mean by this. Since when has Obama been in favor of starting wars? Him and Ron Paul (and maybe Joe Biden) are pretty much the only guys running for either side that were against Bush’s doctrine of preemptive war.

  3. Obama had said that the U.S may send troops to Pakistan to get Bin Laden of which Islamabad had been rejcting.

  4. I’m pretty sure he’s talking about special forces that would sneak into the tribal areas that are barely even part of Pakistan anyway- not any kind of war with the Pakistani army or government. That sort of action might piss Pakistan off, but the odds of it leading to war are pretty darn slim.

  5. As for saying “he should publicly pledge to roll back all the Bush power-grabbing” check out Obama’s speech at DePaul the other day.
    http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2007/10/obama-lets-it-r.html#more

    This is all very solid stuff, and a lot of it is stuff that no other major candidate, including Clinton, has said so explicitly. I have to say, Although I was oridinally willing to listen because of his background and oratory skills, reading his policy proposals actually make me like him more- which is pretty rare for a politician.

    when I’m President, we’ll reject torture – without exception or equivocation; we’ll close Guantanamo; we’ll be the country that credibly tells the dissidents in the prison camps around the world that America is your voice, America is your dream, America is your light of justice.
    […]
    And when I said that we can rule out the use of nuclear weapons to take out a terrorist training camp, it was immediately branded a “gaffe” because I did not recite the conventional Washington-speak. But is there any military planner in the world who believes that we need to drop a nuclear bomb on a terrorist training camp?
    […]
    The first thing we have to do is end this war. And the right person to end it is someone who had the judgment to oppose it from the beginning. There is no military solution in Iraq, and there never was. I will begin to remove our troops from Iraq immediately. I will remove one or two brigades a month, and get all of our combat troops out of Iraq within 16 months. The only troops I will keep in Iraq will perform the limited missions of protecting our diplomats and carrying out targeted strikes on al Qaeda. And I will launch the diplomatic and humanitarian initiatives that are so badly needed. Let there be no doubt: I will end this war.
    […]
    I’ll lead a global effort to secure all loose nuclear materials during my first term in office.
    […]
    We’ll work with Russia to take U.S. and Russian ballistic missiles off hair-trigger alert, and to dramatically reduce the stockpiles of our nuclear weapons and material. We’ll start by seeking a global ban on the production of fissile material for weapons. And we’ll set a goal to expand the U.S.-Russian ban on intermediate-range missiles so that the agreement is global.
    […]
    It’s time to make diplomacy a top priority. Instead of shuttering consulates, we need to open them in the tough and hopeless corners of the world. Instead of having more Americans serving in military bands than the diplomatic corps, we need to grow our foreign service.
    […]
    The United Nations has embraced the Millennium Development Goals, which aim to cut extreme poverty in half by 2015. When I’m President, they will be America’s goals. The Bush Administration tried to keep the UN from proclaiming these goals; the Obama Administration will double foreign assistance to $50 billion to lead the world to achieve them.
    […]
    But these last few years we’ve seen an unacceptable abuse of power at home. We face real threats. Any President needs the latitude to confront them swiftly and surely. But we’ve paid a heavy price for having a President whose priority is expanding his own power.
    […]
    I’ll turn the page on a growing empire of classified information, and restore the balance we’ve lost between the necessarily secret and the necessity of openness in a democratic society by creating a new National Declassification Center.
    […]
    I will make the Director of National Intelligence an official with a fixed term, like the Chairman of the Federal Reserve – not someone who can be fired by the President.
    […]

  6. “That sort of action might piss Pakistan off, but the odds of it leading to war are pretty darn slim.”

    Mentioning about sending special op team itself can destabilize Pakistani politics and fragile rule of Musharraf.Bush was canned for not knowing the name of the president of Pakistan,but that was a lesser evil than that statement.I must say Obama is an amateur in diplomacy.

  7. Many people share the view that Obama is an “amateur” in pretty much every aspect of being a president (except speech-making, in which regard he’s the state of the art). But given how screwed up politicians’ worldviews become after years at the top, I kind of reckon that an amateur might be the best choice.

    I don’t know about that “grow our foreign service” part—our foreign service doesn’t really do that much these days…

  8. “Many people share the view that Obama is an “amateur” in pretty much every aspect of being a president”

    And that is why he’ll be Clinton’s Vice.

    (not that kind of Clinton’s vice – get your mind out of the gutter).

  9. ”But given how screwed up politicians’ worldviews become after years at the top, I kind of reckon that an amateur might be the best choice.”

    Wasn’t that the sort of logic why the American public chose Dubya over boring Al Gore,who would likely be an ideal American president in 2000?

    I remember Bryce was saying at the beginning of this year that one Japanese analyst had spoke that MoFA is afraid of having the Clintons at the White house again in 2008,and I’d agree with that.
    Now I changed my mind.It seems to be Hilalry is the best candidate among the both the repubilican and the democrat in the field of diplomacy.

  10. I don’t think there’s any chance that Obama will be VP if Clinton wins. I would expect him to stay in the senate and wait out her term until he can run again. I wouldn’t be surprised if she took Bill Richardson- an extremely competent guy who sucks at speechmaking, and therefore has no chance of winning himself.

  11. I also just cannot vote for Clinton. It’s not really her fault, and I don’t even think she’s that bad- but I have a very strong aversion to political dynasties, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to go down that road.

  12. Roy (you’re not a frog anymore?),

    “I don’t think there’s any chance that Obama will be VP if Clinton wins.”

    Maybe. I’ll refer to your superior knowledge. The American news sources I follow most consistently are the Daily Show and Bill Maher.

    I’m not a fan of Clinton either. I don’t get how the electable candidates are the most insipid. Well, actually I do, but I don’t like it. I actually prefer Kucinnich to Clinton. And I even like Ron Paul, largely due to his chutzpah, dodgy past notwithstanding.

    Ace,

    “I remember Bryce was saying at the beginning of this year…”

    I think you need to look at the context in which those comments were made. When I interviewed that guy Abe had just gotten in and the China-Japan relationship was still smarting hard over Koizumi. Right wing rags like SAPIO were screaming anti-China venom from subway advertisements. So some of the officials I interviewed were a litlle testy over the issue. I think they were a bit jittery about Hillary because they remember how Bill prioritised China at Japan’s expense in the 1990s. One guy also mentioned to me he was concerned that Hillary had been pretty close to Iris Chang. Now that Fukkun (as I believe the Manju makers call him) is in, things have calmed down a bit. But if Aso makes a comeback in a few years’ time, all bets are off on the Japanese Hillary angst.

  13. Is Fukuda really a dove as many are wishing him to be?
    His father was a head of pro-Taipei group and strong opponent against Tanaka/Oohira’s move for normalization with Beijing,Although it turned out to be it was Fukuda’s term when Tokyo signed Sino-Japanese friendship treaty in 1978.

    So all this hawk/dove talk is basically meaningless.Being a keen bird watcher myself, I would like to make a redefinition of the ornithological taxonomy on Japanese political figures.The Parrot,for always talking the same phrase and the Ostrich,for shying away from the troubles ahead.Fukuda could be a latter.

    I have to say losing Abe in such a short term was a huge loss for Japan,especialy after North Korea is now has bomb and six party talks is a joke and Americans will chose China over Japan anyway,although I admit he wasn’t able in many aspects.

  14. Wow! Ace!

    I have recently been writing a piece on what you refer to as “ornithological taxonomy on Japanese political figures” and Fukuda is my subject.

    In any case, while Fukuda may not be a dove (I don’t want to keep beating my “I’ve interviewed the Prime Minister” drum*, but there were some things he said to me in December to make me believe his thinking on security issues is a little more complex than that) he is certainly perceived that way by Chinese non-experts on Japan – and even many Japanese not keenly interested in politics. So as long as he doesn’t rock the boat, relations will be smoother. It’s easier, I think, for Japan to accept that its now second fiddle in Asia when the Prime Minister is making conciliatory noises towards the Chinese.

    *well, actually, I still kinda think its cool. AND I’m meeting my nation’s Opposition Leader tomorrow.

  15. Clinton has said publicly that she wants to press Japan on war apology and that she wants Japan to “open its market” to American goods (mostly cars) and services (80s rhetoric for the 00s). Note to Hillary – Japanese buy BMWs because they are better, they shop at Toys R Us because it is better, etc. Time to drop the BS.

  16. “It’s easier, I think, for Japan to accept that its now second fiddle in Asia when the Prime Minister is making conciliatory noises towards the Chinese.”

    Might be a bit too soon to relegate Japan to second fiddle, methinks.

    Funny, I was under the impression that Japan’s market was pretty open to US products. In fact I don’t think there is any import duty on cars any more. So why not many massive Cadillacs cruising the streets? For the same reason there aren’t in Britain, basically. As for services – does she want American waiters to work in Japan or something?

  17. There’s a Hummer parked in front of a little apartment building on a back street in Mejiro. The car is about the same size as the building, and I swear there’s no way they could have driven it down that narrow back street. So it must have been brought there in parts. And since the owner can’t drive it out, they must just be using it as an expensive lawn ornament. Confusing.

    I see Cadillacs around here sometimes, but this is Takanawa so it isn’t exactly representative of Japan as a whole.

  18. I’ve never heard of Takanawa. What’s so special about it?

    I’ve seen Hummers driving down WAAAYYY too small streets in Kyoto. Always a baffling and slightly infuriating sight.

  19. ““It’s easier, I think, for Japan to accept that its now second fiddle in Asia when the Prime Minister is making conciliatory noises towards the Chinese.”

    Might be a bit too soon to relegate Japan to second fiddle, methinks.”

    True, I phrased that poorly. The point is that Clinton will relegate Japan to second fiddle. That will be easier for Fukuda to accept than it would have been for Aso.

  20. Fukuda will have to do a very good job to stay in power for more than the beginning of the next US president’s term.

  21. No argument there, but still I don’t think that the anticipation of a Clinton administration is going to be as scary to most with Fukuda hanging around as prime minister in the interim.

    But I even wonder whether an Aso figure after Fukuda would be such a bad thing vis-à-vis the U.S. Japan relationship. Part of the reason America “passed over” Japan during the Clinton years was that the political leadership in Japan was deemed fairly weak. With a temperamental nationalist in the office it could be that Clinton will tiptoe around China-Japan issues to try not to rattle Tokyo. I’m not saying I want Aso or his cronies in office – and I’m not sure the Japanese public will either after Fukuda – but it would certainly be a contrast to the 1990s.

  22. To what extent was the lack of a strong political figure (Nakasone?) a factor vis a vis the collapsed bubble and the idea that “Japan, Inc” had blown out both front tyres and was about to crash? You do say “part of” so I’m not saying you’re claiming it’s the sole reason, but the only fiery PM I can think of from the pre-Clinton (gong back only as far as Reagan though) years is Nakasone, and I’m wondering if his five-year reign was long enough. I do know the Ron-Yasu relationship was fairly defining, but would another strong PM be enough to counter current trends? Back in the pre-Clinton years Japan’s role in containing the USSR, by acting as an island aircraft carrier if nothing else, would also have been a factor I imagine, one that is much less important today now that the only Communist threat in the region is Chinese toys (well, that and Nork massed games).

    Not that I imagine Hill has a snowball’s at being President. Americans are very conservative that way – you gotta be a (rich) white Christian male.

  23. “Not that I imagine Hill has a snowball’s at being President. Americans are very conservative that way – you gotta be a (rich) white Christian male.”

    That’s certainly been true so far, but if you’ve been following the candidates fairly closely, as I have, you might come to the conclusion that none of the Republicans running would have a snowball’s chance in hell vs. Clinton OR Obama.

  24. Jade, as you’ve pointed out, during the Cold War years there was stronger glue holding the relationship together than just whether the leaders got on/respected each other or not. Japan’s interests may not have been ignored so much during the recession if they had a leader with Nakasone’s balls, although, similar to what I said earlier, I’m not sure that would have been “better” for Japan. But don’t take it from me; take it from Slick Willy himself. I know that at some stage during the 1990s Clinton upset one of Japan’s prime ministers by mentioning in a chat with someone from MOFA or one of the other ministries that it was good that the official, who Clinton had met before, was around to provide some consistency because the Prime Ministers kept changing. I’d have to look around to find the specific quote, but it shows the somewhat cavalier attitude towards the Japanese leadership.

  25. “was around to provide some consistency because the Prime Ministers kept changing”

    Why am I instantly reminded of “Yes [Prime] Minister”?
    In terms of changing, how did the Bush-Koizumi relationship compare with the Reagan-Nakasone one? Both Nakasone and Koizumi served five years, which is pretty respectable (especially for Japan), so had time for solid relationships. How would they compare, and what effect would the affiliation of the US President have, I wonder?

    As regards the US election, one thing I am pretty certain about is that it is way to early to make predictions. I’m just highly sceptical, and wonder if Clinton or Obama would get in on their own merits (assuming the Dems don”t find anyone else) or just a reaction to W. That might be the only way a black or female might get in at the moment. Interestingly, of the three factors I listed, opinion polls have repeatedly said that the most important of the three is the “christian” part – or at least religious, preferably Judeo-Christian. A black atheist woman lesbian President?

  26. I also just cannot vote for Clinton. It’s not really her fault, and I don’t even think she’s that bad- but I have a very strong aversion to political dynasties, and I don’t think it’s a good idea to go down that road.

    That’s a lame and lazy reason not vote for someone. How about the fact that she’s disgusting?

    Not that I wouldn’t vote for a woman. Resurect Maggie from the dead and bring her to the US and I’d vote for her.

    (What’s that? She’s still alive?)

    Obama is the only Democrat I could possibly vote for in 2008. Failing that, bring on the GOP candidate.

    Roy: Takanawa is a rather upscale area of Minato ward in Tokyo, south of Roppongi and north of Meguro, with lots of wedding halls.

  27. That’s a lame and lazy reason not vote for someone. How about the fact that she’s disgusting?

    Or that their one child will never go into politics. Really Roy, you can do better than weak and self-righteous anti-dynastic rhetoric in justification for not backing HC.

  28. At least Hilary is combat-proven,Curzon.Obama is just beautiful and the shine could go away in the first scandal he would face in the near future.

    Nakasone and Koizumi are both exceptional PM.Their unique leadership were
    born under the circumstance of fractional vacuum within the LDP.Otherwise they would’ve never be a PM.

    Under the current system(or “Post-War-Regime”as Abe puts it)you can only have very weak PM as the result.One must walk the tight rope of being analyzed as either hawk or dove.And if you are too strong a man to upgrade the ties with the U.S,either Beijing or Seoul will label you as a hawk.Fukuda is now a dove,for he is slowing down the politico/military tranformations.

    That’s why I believe in the constitutional revision is in urgent need.At least before the Korean reunification or China become too strong that no one in the region want to speak up against.

    Back then, in the good old cold war days,the military and the Pentagon helped to shape the geopolitical landscape of the west pacific that would suits the need of Tokyo.Now they do not.
    The State department wants more “balanced”relationship between the regional powers and White House credits more on the style than the substance and the Capitol Hill can be shaked by the Asian American lobby and focus group when it comes to the relation with Japan.
    Lacking NATO-like organized regional alliance,hub and spoke structure of American bilateral alliances are becoming increasingly difficult to operate functionally,or at least making it easy for China to out manoeuvre and eventually,Washington may have policy shift more for the consultation with Beijing on the regional matters.Thus danger of Japan’s isolation increase.

    Under such grim future prediction,we can no longer afford too much insular PM under current constitution only to please our neighbors,I think.

  29. Oh, I have other reasons not to vote for Clinton, but the dynasty thing still triggers an underlying sense of disgust, even if it isn’t entirely rational. You do have a point that Chelsea is unlikely to continue it (although perhaps more likely than the Bush Twins.)

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