"Having been associated with that group, a known domestic terrorist group, it's important for Americans to know," she continued. "It's really important for Americans to start knowing who the real Barack Obama is."

This woman (or whoever is telling her to say these things) is pure evil. I would very much like to push her down a flight of stairs.

As paraphrased by J.R.R. Tolkein:

"Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal of telling anyway."

And Obama's speech was more passionte than comes off in the printed word -- he's doing very well.

2. Hegel?

Ahem. It's actually just economics and math (getting to 50%+1), the need to connect on economics that is, it's not really *anything* about Hegel or dialectics.
But it sure sounds all intellectual as shit to throw in the Hegel stuff. Truly obscurantist,or should I say: "The height of audacity in serving up pure nonsense, in stringing together senseless and extravagant mazes of words,...the instrument of the most barefaced, general mystification that has ever taken place, with a result which will appear fabulous to posterity, as a monument to [Mudedian]stupidity."

I think a more precise historical reference would be Bill Clinton -- you know, getting to winning, via connecting based on the economy -- rather than Hegel.
Sure am glad Obama is getting the hang of it and going in that Clintonian direction.
Certainly looks like it's finally succeeding in getting us to that big elec. college victory we need as predicate to more sweeping change.

Unity y'all--

Die Weltgeschichte ist nicht der Boden des Glücks. Die Perioden des Glücks sind wie leere Blätter in ihr.

--Die Philosophie der Geschichte

Really, "Boden" doesn't mean "theater" at all. It means more "ground," "floor," "firmament," "firm ground," "foundation," or even "soil." It is an agricultural term, as well, referring to arable land. By extension, this can mean "realm" or "abode" as well. "Theater" is honestly quite a stretch.

And, interestingly, "Glueck" can mean both happiness and also luck (actually its primary meaning)--both connotations are present in the original.

I think into his English translation we might read more (or different things) than we do into his German original. Not necessarily wrong things, but different things.

http://wlsam.com/article.asp?id=916933&SPID=17549