January 22, 2009   148 notes
Recently started to think/feel the same way. Sure, he’s just getting started and everyone’s feeling pretty good about it, but it’s time to put all the packaging aside. That said, I love what I’m hearing so far. merlin: The Real Deal On Day One, Obama Sets a New Tone - NYTimes.com “Starting today,” Mr. Obama said, “every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.” Okay. Here’s the deal. I’m breaking my general, radio silence about the Obama thing. Partly, because the election (and the ungodly not-funny, not-interesting “coverage” thereof) basically destroyed my soul for six months. Partly because (yeah, I’m sorry I have to admit this), I had a lot of concerns (some very disturbing) that this man would never make it to getting sworn in. And I didn’t want to jinx it. But. I have a feeling this guy may be the real deal. Seriously. I’m still annoyed by the goddamn posters and hats and songs and freeform hagiography about a Chicago politician who’s still a civil servant and a human being. But, I also have a feeling this civil servant’s got the stones to see reality and remind people what it means. And to tell people in unapologetic terms what the deal is going to be to start unravelling a lot of fundamental brokenness. I also predict that he’s going to disappoint an unbelievable number of people who’d like to think he’s all-powerful Zeus with a secret pack of smokes and that tidy haircut. But, y’know, maybe honest, un-shiny, and difficult-to-productize disappointment is exactly what we need right now. Instead, of eight years of empty boxes and flag stickers. Maybe what we really need is somebody to tell us it’s time to grow up, to think about how the rest of the world operates, and to accept that being a country of adults means doing a ton of insanely hard work and making sacrifices where not everybody wins. Thing is, I’m supporting an honest, level-headed man who seems to care about doing a good job and telling people the truth. But, I’m not supporting a poster. It’s posters we need a shit-ton less of right about now.

Recently started to think/feel the same way. Sure, he’s just getting started and everyone’s feeling pretty good about it, but it’s time to put all the packaging aside. That said, I love what I’m hearing so far.

merlin:

The Real Deal

On Day One, Obama Sets a New Tone - NYTimes.com

“Starting today,” Mr. Obama said, “every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.”

Okay. Here’s the deal. I’m breaking my general, radio silence about the Obama thing. Partly, because the election (and the ungodly not-funny, not-interesting “coverage” thereof) basically destroyed my soul for six months. Partly because (yeah, I’m sorry I have to admit this), I had a lot of concerns (some very disturbing) that this man would never make it to getting sworn in. And I didn’t want to jinx it.

But.

I have a feeling this guy may be the real deal. Seriously.

I’m still annoyed by the goddamn posters and hats and songs and freeform hagiography about a Chicago politician who’s still a civil servant and a human being. But, I also have a feeling this civil servant’s got the stones to see reality and remind people what it means. And to tell people in unapologetic terms what the deal is going to be to start unravelling a lot of fundamental brokenness.

I also predict that he’s going to disappoint an unbelievable number of people who’d like to think he’s all-powerful Zeus with a secret pack of smokes and that tidy haircut. But, y’know, maybe honest, un-shiny, and difficult-to-productize disappointment is exactly what we need right now. Instead, of eight years of empty boxes and flag stickers.

Maybe what we really need is somebody to tell us it’s time to grow up, to think about how the rest of the world operates, and to accept that being a country of adults means doing a ton of insanely hard work and making sacrifices where not everybody wins.

Thing is, I’m supporting an honest, level-headed man who seems to care about doing a good job and telling people the truth. But, I’m not supporting a poster. It’s posters we need a shit-ton less of right about now.

  1. classics reblogged this from sharpless and added:
    ?Starting today,? Mr....said, ?every agency...department...
  2. stevekinney reblogged this from merlin
  3. roads2roam reblogged this from aja
  4. 1stfloorppl reblogged this from girlytree
  5. steelopus reblogged this from merlin and added:
    man that I generally hate to love. Somehow he became the posterboy (in a minute you’ll see what I did there) for modern,...
  6. wrathofblog reblogged this from merlin and added:
    Interesting. I do like that part about hagiography....very fact Merlin Mann made reference...
  7. moreofthesame reblogged this from merlin and added:
    Recently started to think/feel the same way. Sure, he’s just getting started and everyone’s feeling pretty good about...
  8. bigboxcar reblogged this from aja
  9. timblelog reblogged this from merlin and added:
    As always, Merlin Mann says everything I would’ve hoped to say and much more eloquent and to-the point. Bravo, Merlin....
  10. samtastic reblogged this from aja
  11. arseniccupcakes reblogged this from petitedeath
  12. yeahmon reblogged this from aja
  13. petitedeath reblogged this from girlytree
  14. bedtimechamp reblogged this from merlin and added:
    No further commentary needed, thanks Merlin.
  15. merlin posted this