Presidentiality. :: The Life of the Traegorn :: August 29, 2008 at 15:14:00

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Presidentiality.
Posted Aug 29, 2008 - 15:14:00

And the adding of more articles to the website continues today, with my posting an article I wrote a few years ago about Archetypes of the American President in Fiction. It's mostly up to date, with the exception of one number from 2006 -- but I think it's just as good a read now anyways.

It's one of those things that I haven't released to the public at large (an earlier draft was turned in as a paper when I was at UW Eau Claire), so even though it's a little older, you guys are the first audience I've really ever released it to.

My mind has, of course, been on Presidential Politics as late for obvious reasons. I sat down and watched Obama's speech from last night this morning (as I lack cable, I had to watch it online). Honestly, this is the first time I've ever been excited about a Presidential nominee in my life. This is the third Presidential election I can vote in (I turned 18 on a midterm year), and this is the first time that I genuinely feel like the candidate I want elected is the one I have the chance to vote for.

To me, this is important.

What I love about Obama is that he speaks the way I wish all politicians spoke. He does not demonize his opponents, but instead treats them as people. He actually makes sense when he talks, and rather than play to low expectations, he raises the level of debate.

Hope has a shot this time out, and that means a lot to me.

If you want to reference my article about Archetypes, as a simple way to unite the two subjects, Obama started out as the Rebel, but has found a way to recast himself as the Statesman archetype. And for once, and just this once, I'm totally buying into it. Entirely.

Of course, I dare you to watch this video of his speech and not buy into it yourself: