Comments on: Obama and the ARTS

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 11:51:57 +0000

An encouraging update re the Obama administration from Slow Muse. In the NY Times article she links to, I read this from Teresa Eyring, executive director of the Theater Communications Group representing nonprofit theaters:

In President Obama we have a leader who is making the connection, who seems to understand both the spiritual and economic necessity of the arts to our nation’s strength.

By: Birgit Zipser

Birgit Zipser — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 00:53:30 +0000

Arts Leaders Urge Role for Culture in Economic Recovery, an article in today's NYTimes, addresses what we have discussed here. The petition (see comment #22) some of us signed for a new cabinet post, Secretary of Arts, has now more than 199,500 signatures!

By: Melanie

Melanie — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 04:11:05 +0000

Hitler was also skilled at inspiring crowds. This ability — admittedly highly refined and adrioitly deployed — to put on a convincing act is the main source of my skepticism. But we’ll see what we see. It’s the great strength and great flaw of our political system.

By: Jay

Jay — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:04:07 +0000

Anyone who can make it through our grueling campaign process, and do it with such class, is, in my mind, ready to serve. Much will be heaped upon his plate and much abuse upon his pate. He appears to have the character to handle it.

By: Steve Durbin

Steve Durbin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:31:59 +0000

Melanie,
I think lots of people have concerns, to say the least. It will be very interesting to watch what happens, though it can be hard to evaluate any one actor, given all the contingencies. My hope is based in the belief that inspiring others is a large part of what an effective political leader has to do, and in that sense Obama has already proved himself. How sustainable is it? We shall see, willy-nilly.

By: Birgit Zipser

Birgit Zipser — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:31:38 +0000

Melanie,

Your standards may be too high. I voted for Obama because he is intelligent, and, I hope, ambitious enough not to want to go into history with the infamy of a George Bush. I was reassured that he chose Biden who has a reputation of being honorable. I am sad that he wants to escalate the war in Afganistan but I like that he sent Biden to that part of the world on a fact-finding mission.

By: Melanie

Melanie — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 03:26:06 +0000

I suppose I am the only person on the planet who thinks this guy is a fraud. I hope I’m wrong.