This book singlehandedly changed me from a dyed-in-the-wool Clintonite to an Obamaniac...

Audacity of Hope - Barack Obama

In a political world where shafting, lying and manipulation are seen as skills, this was the first political biography I think I've ever read where I felt the author was absolutely honest; not only about his positive/good points but also about his weaknesses. I really learned so much from it, about how human weakness affects a candidate, about how the influence of money slowly seeps into the mind of a politician and how one's humanity must be brought to his job to counter this potentially negative influence. More than anything, he struck me as being the embodiment of a progressive (but not naive) politician and extraordinarily aware, both of himself and of others. His two-sentence description of George Bush ("I had found the President to be a likable man, shrewd and disciplined but with the same straightforward manner that had helped him win two elections; you could easily imagine him owning the local car dealership down the street, coaching Little League, and grilling in his backyard--the kind of guy who would make for good company so long as the conversation revolved around sports and the kids.") is I think it's a better pen-picture description of the man than anything I've ever come across.

Originally I was a strong Hillary supporter (I even bought the t-shirt!). I couldn't warm to Obama - I felt his comments about talking to the Iranian President were naive and also Hillary was so good to Ireland (she even visited Doolin - a woman of taste!)  but after reading this book I cannot but be certain that Obama would be a masterful and potentially transformatory President of the United States. I believe his election and subsequently his open style of government could awaken a sense of civic participation the world over in people and lead to many great achievements that have proved elusive for the last generation. The Bible says "Cometh the hour, cometh the man" - I'm sorry it can't be a woman, but for the here and now, Obama is the man. 

(There is an entertaining short extract here: http://jacquelinekam.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!713D0CCEAEBEE05!2108.entry) 

One of the politicians I have campaigned for, worked for and really admire as a politician is Senator Paschal Donohoe (Fine Gael) of Dublin Central (below). He diligently worked a 2 1/2 year Election campaign from the day he got elected to Dublin City Council and was barely beaten by a candidate that won a third of Paschal's first preferences - in the process beating candidates like (ex-MEP) Patricia McKenna and (current MEP) Mary-Lou McDonald. 

Senator Paschal Donohoe.

But what I admire most about him politically, was his idealism tinged with a business based practicality, combined with a constant desire to seek consensus and the best posssible solution in any conflict situation. I feel these are traits possessed by a new generation of young politician who are appearing in almost every Member State in the European Union. It is fascinating to examine the very similar characteristics and outlooks this generation of politician possess, suggesting that the influence of globalisation and cultural convergence may be finding its way into politics and Government of our countries. It is striking, for example that that an Italian is now the French First Lady, Stubb is married to a British citizen, as is Denmark’s opposition leader and that the British Foreign secretary has an American wife. Newsweek magazine examined this in its January 21st edition and it drew a number of similarities that it saw between the next generation of politicians. It stated that “They are more technocratic, more global in outlook, more comfortable with technology, more idealistic and yet less ideological and invested in old debates. They are also international in a way most of their parent’s generation was not.” Can this new generation of politicians transform the European Union in the next number of years?

Younger politicians (say those under 45 years old) have a different set of experiences than those who are currently in power. Most for example would not have been part of the social revolutions of the sixties and seventies that defined political divisions (divisively) for the past 30 years.

It is suggested in this same article that younger leaders have moved beyond these damaging divisions to come to a consensus that thought “there is widespread support for a state-provided social safety net…there is a realisation that current benefits and tax systems that support them have become overly burdensome and must be reformed”.  With 46 year old Barak Obama having a great chance to be America’s next President and 42 year old Dmitry Medvedev taking over this year as President of Russia (and Paschal with hard work I'm sure will make it into the Dáíl (Parliament) next election) – perhaps it’s time for a younger and perhaps truly revolutionary set of younger politicians to take charge. 

 (A modified version of this Article may be published in the European Stagiaire's Journal - Backstage in May 2008)