Criminal defense lawyer blogging might seem a logical place to launch frequent partisan political conversations; yet I have rarely, if ever done so. Trust me: it’s not that I fear my political views might alienate clients… after all, in Austin, Texas a defense attorney could anger all the Republicans in town and still do quite a healthy business.
It’s that generally speaking, I don’t find candidates of either party addressing issues that concern me professionally, or folks that become my clients. Or perhaps it’s that they don’t address those concerns in a positive way. Let’s all be ‘tough on crime’ right? And to heck with those pesky amendments, and that ole Bill of Whatever. That attitude comes in spades from both parties.
And tonight’s not necessarily different, except that it’s Saturday night, and frankly I don’t care if this post is a little ‘off topic’.
I was thrilled to see Barack Obama win tonight’s primary, and I wish him well on Super Tuesday. I’m old enough to be well outside that youngest ‘under 30’ demographic that supports Obama the most. But I must be young (and foolish?) enough to embrace his message, and the message that his potential election would send to the world.
Iowa was a surprise, but New Hampshire a bitter disappointment, especially considering the pre-election polls. I was worried after New Hampshire that the rumors were true. America wasn’t ready for a black President. Never mind that he’s the best candidate. Somehow, we just aren’t ready. Depressing.
Well, back on the bandwagon is the wrong way to say it, because I’m no newcomer to the Obama movement. [See my previous letter to the editor in the New York Times defending him against accusations in Maureen Dowd’s column. And for those wishing to make sense of it… NYT Select subscribers can read the original column here; non subscribers here.]
But I am back to being somewhere between depressed about America, and euphoric about tonight’s results. As Obama himself said in his victory speech, it’s a tough road ahead. But it’s back on track, and that’s the first step.
Other Austin Texas blogs on tonight’s SC primary results: coming soon and/or email me and I’ll hook you up with a link. Or, just leave a comment. And now, back to our regularly scheduled blogging…