[Peace-discuss] Estimate of Obama

[C. G. Estabrook]

[The following came across my virtual desk: it seems to me about right. --CGE]

"I think he's basically presenting himself as a blank slate, on which you can 
write your wishes.  Hard to find much to be hopeful about.  He is energizing a 
lot of young people, but I don't see much reason to expect that for that reason 
his presidency would be more responsive to public pressure.  Overwhelmingly, the 
public believes that the government should be responsive to public opinion.  But 
that's such an unpopular elite view that the press won't even report the polls 
showing this.  A more realistic possibility, perhaps, is that those who are 
energized by the candidacy will devote the energy to something constructive 
after the likely disillusionment."

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