tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post3950382871639538602..comments2023-10-29T01:27:43.278-07:00Comments on Premediation: Obama and the Premediated PresidencyRichard Grusinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16236393993863736840noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post-32123136725439331942008-12-13T04:38:00.000-08:002008-12-13T04:38:00.000-08:00I think that your point, though, that Obama's best...I think that your point, though, that Obama's best strategy is to continue to generate ahead of him an atmosphere of hope/change through skillful use of the media is a very good one. Also premediated in the last month is the exit of Bush with his very low profile and hands-off leadership during the financial collapse. There is a strange disconnect between activities like attending the Army-Navy game and unveiling the portrait and what must really be one of the first orders of business for an outgoing president -- checking the pardon list twice.Caroline Maunhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02117719769526068007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post-58639806396630556262008-11-26T11:06:00.000-08:002008-11-26T11:06:00.000-08:00Thanks, Ken. I didn't check the text so wasn't su...Thanks, Ken. I didn't check the text so wasn't sure I had gotten it right. Basically, then, I would say that messianic time begins with the election of Obama. Yes, his most ardent followers may expect 1/20/09 to mark the second coming, but as you suggest, we will most likely continue to live in the time that remains, which may be even more than "as if" nothing has changed.Richard Grusinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16236393993863736840noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4027798158442286806.post-57458384370950703132008-11-26T10:55:00.000-08:002008-11-26T10:55:00.000-08:00Richard, I don't know that it matters much to your...Richard, <BR/>I don't know that it matters much to your point about Obama, but for Agamben and Paul "messianic" time actually begins with the Christ event: the death and resurrection. It is the time that we live in, the time that remains, while we wait for the second coming (parousia). The concept is a political necessity for the apostle who has to explain (to the Corinthians and others) why -- if the event has happened -- everything is still the same. Paul's answer is that we live in "the time that remains", messianic time, and that we should live "as if" (hos me) everything has not changed. There is something in that as a political strategy for Obama when he will have to be explaining why things haven't changed after Jan. 20.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04561628214183846719noreply@blogger.com