1st Edition

Campaign Journal 2008 A Chronicle of Vision, Hope, and Glory

By Carlos Rangel Copyright 2009
    150 Pages
    by Routledge

    152 Pages
    by Routledge

    In this distinctive and personal narrative of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for the American presidency, Carlos Rangel chronicles the underlying currents of social change that led to this successful campaign. The results were a president with a clear majority of the votes cast; elected by a commanding majority of electoral votes; and who won states on both coasts, in the South, the Rust Belt, and the West. There were no recount battles, or intervention by the courts.

    Rangel notes that the effective professional politician gathers coalitions around positions on the issues and uses these coalitions to formulate policies that bring these positions to fruition. The Obama Campaign coalesced expectations that he would be able to rapidly transform the way the country is led and lead Americans to a better future. These expectations were multiplied by an effective, well-run campaign. Certainly, Obama's capacity to inspire during the campaign led many to believe he could do the same as president.

    Management of high expectations became one of President Obama's greatest challenges in the immediate period after the election. In transforming ideals of hope and change into reality, he faced political resistance from multiple fronts, an economy with structural flaws, and an internationally isolated United States. Rangel's unique background in Latin America enables him to make sharp observations about policies and campaign statements that may have influence in that region, including trade deals, drug wars and the populist rhetoric, and actions emanating from the region. This book is a solid start at analysis of the years ahead, as well as the year that was.

    Acknowledgements
    Introduction
    1. The Democratic Primaries
    So, She Won the Battle but... Did She Lose the War?
    The Numbers Game
    Open Letter to Senator Obama
    Senator Barack Obama and the World Man
    2. Clinton vs. Obama
    After Pennsylvania: What are the Rules of the Game?
    How Electable Will the Democratic Candidate Be?
    3. A Pair of Primary Issues
    Let's Talk About Unemployment
    Our Health Care Market Dilemma
    4. The Primaries are Over�Election Time is Here
    What Now, Clinton?
    How Electable is the Democratic Candidate? � Redux
    Winning the Election Decisively
    5. One Nation Indivisible
    Roots of an Unapologetic Liberal
    Not a Baby Boomer Anymore
    The Terrorists Have Won... So Far
    And Justice for All
    6. The National Campaign (Finally) Begins
    Coronation Night: A New Beginning
    The End is Near
    Governor Sarah Palin: The Choice
    The Emperor's New Clothes
    How to Lose an Election: A Fictional Glimpse into the Future
    Earmarks, Lobbyists, and Special Interests that Go Bump in the Night
    7. State of the Nation
    A $700,000,000,000 Check
    A Few Days Later: The Financial "Bailout"
    Outsider Infl uences: Monroe is Long Gone
    Mercenary Terrorism
    8. The Debates
    The Debate Performances
    A Homeowner's Bailout
    The Plumber's Taxes
    Endorsements
    9. An Outward Look
    The Ugly American and the American Dream
    The Latin America Trifecta: Brazil, Mexico and Colombia
    Free Trade and Supranational Market Failures
    10. The Elections
    Election Week
    What Now, Senator McCain?
    Conclusions
    In Transition
    An Innovation Imperative
    A More Perfect Government: A Delivering of Expectations
    Appendixes
    Bibliography
    Index

    Biography

    Carlos Rangel