With Obama, Many Say Goodbye to Boomers

fruit loop

Inactive
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28604364/

With Obama, many say bye-bye to boomers

Jan. 20 will symbolize the passing of an entire generation
The early-morning sky brightens Sunday on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol during a rehearsal for the inauguration.

updated 11:40 a.m. ET, Sun., Jan. 11, 2009
NEW YORK - When George W. Bush lifts off in his helicopter on Inauguration Day, leaving Washington to make way for Barack Obama, he may not be the only thing disappearing into the horizon.

To a number of social analysts, historians, bloggers and ordinary Americans, Jan. 20 will symbolize the passing of an entire generation: the baby boomer years.

Generational change. A passing of the torch. The terms have been thrown around with frequency as the moment nears for Obama to take the oath of office. And yet the reference is not to Obama's relatively young age — at 47, he's only tied for fifth place on the youngest presidents list with Grover Cleveland.

Rather, it's a sense that a cultural era is ending, one dominated by the boomers, many of whom came of age in the '60s and experienced the bitter divisions caused by the Vietnam War and the protests against it, the civil rights struggle, social change, sexual freedoms, and more.

Those experiences, the theory goes, led boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, to become deeply motivated by ideology and mired in decades-old conflicts. And Obama? He's an example of a new pragmatism: idealistic but realistic, post-partisan, unthreatened by dissent, eager and able to come up with new ways to solve problems.

"Obama is one of those people who was raised post-Vietnam and really came of age in the '80s," says Steven Cohen, professor of public administration at Columbia University. "It's a huge generational change, and a new kind of politics. He's trying to be a problem-solver by not getting wrapped up in the right-left ideology underlying them."

Technically, he's a boomer
Obama, it must be said, is technically a boomer; he was born in 1961. But he long has sought to draw a generational contrast between himself and the politicians who came before him.

"I sometimes felt as if I were watching the psychodrama of the baby boom generation — a tale rooted in old grudges and revenge plots hatched on a handful of college campuses long ago — played out on the national stage," he wrote of the 2000 and 2004 elections in his book, "The Audacity of Hope."

It's been a while since historians spoke of generational change in Washington. Fully 16 years have passed since Bill Clinton, the first boomer president, took office. Before that, presidents from John F. Kennedy to George H.W. Bush — seven straight — were part of the World War II generation, or what Tom Brokaw has termed the "Greatest Generation."

If Obama isn't a boomer in spirit, then what is he? Not exactly a member of Generation X, though obviously that generation and the next, Generation Y (also known as Millenials) embraced him fully and fueled his historic rise to the presidency.

"Gen Xers are known to be more cynical, less optimistic," says social commentator Jonathan Pontell. "Xers don't write books with the word 'hope' in the title."

Some call late boomers like Obama Cuspers — as in, the cusp of a new generation. One book has called it the 13th generation, as in the 13th generation since colonial times. And Pontell, also a political consultant in Los Angeles, has gained some fame coining a new category: Generation Jones, as in the slang word 'jonesing,' or craving, and as in a generation that's lost in the shuffle.

Jonesers are idealistic, Pontell says, but not ideological like boomers. "Boomers were flower children out changing the world. We Jonesers were wide-eyed, not tie-dyed."

And Obama, he says, is "a walking, living prime example of Generation Jones. He's a classic practical idealist. It's not the naive idealism of the '60s."

Wide-eyed or tie-dyed, Obama will be sworn in by an early "Joneser" himself — Chief Justice John Roberts, who turns 54 at the end of January. And while the average age of the new Congress is 58.2 — an early boomer group — the new president is bringing some "Jonesers" with him.

Obama's chosen treasury secretary, Timothy Geithner, is 47. His pick for education secretary, Arne Duncan, is 44, as is Susan Rice, his U.N. ambassador. (His apparent pick for surgeon general, 39-year-old neurosurgeon and TV correspondent Sanjay Gupta, is a true Gen Xer.)

Of course, Obama's also bringing in veteran Clintonites — most notably Hillary Rodham Clinton, 61, his former campaign rival, as secretary of state. And his vice president, Joe Biden, 66, and defense secretary, Bush holdover Robert Gates, 65, are pre-boomers. But those are the kind of choices — inclusive of other perspectives, embracing rivals — that lead many to call Obama the first post-boomer president.

"It may be technically correct to call him a boomer," says Douglas Warshaw, a New York media executive who, at age 49, is part of whatever cohort Obama is in. "And it's in the Zeitgeist to call him a Gen Xer. But I think he's more like a generational bridge." He adds that Obama got where he was by "brilliantly leveraging the communication behaviors of post-Boomers," with a campaign waged across the Web, on cell phones and on social networking sites.

One analyst of popular culture believes Obama definitely symbolizes a new generation — just not one connected to the year he was born.

"I think it's hilarious that everyone wants to categorize people by their birth year, especially now, a time when our parents are on Facebook," says Montana Miller of Bowling Green State University. Obama, she says, represents a generational shift in ways less tangible than age.

"You can see it from his approach to knowledge. Never before have we had a president who's troubled about giving up his Blackberry," Miller says. (Indeed, Obama is still in a struggle over whether he can keep the device.) "He's constantly exposed to multiple perspectives, to what people out there feel and think."

Obama's biracial heritage also plays into the generational shift, Miller says. "It's so emblematic of how the world is changing," she says. "So many people are now some sort of complicated ethnic mix. Today's youth are completely comfortable with that."

‘A rock star’
Will Obama speak of generational change when he stands on the podium to issue his inaugural address? Given some of his rhetoric on the campaign trail, it's reasonable to think he will — just as, some six months before he was born, JFK pronounced on Inauguration Day that "the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace."

Interestingly, Kennedy is often claimed by boomers to be one of their own, even though he was nothing of the kind; born in 1917, he'd be 91 now. In the same way, many Gen Xers and even Gen Yers like to claim Obama, too.

"As humans we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves, part of a page in a history book," Pontell says. And at least for now, he adds, "Obama's a rock star, and people are dying to call him one of their own."
 

Wise Owl

Deceased
Richard, because it's about the O man guy and FL is treating us to all sorts of these "pro O" stories lately....

O'man <- :kk1:

He is not my president. I did not vote for him.
I did not vote for his predecessor either......

That said, I think FL has set herself up as the prez of O'man's fan club......:shr:
 

G-Man

Membership Revoked
Stories That Sux:

With Obama, many say bye-bye to boomers
:screw:

HUH? Obama, who is almost 50 IS A BOOMER as are most of his staff..... the boomer years (*when the WWII generation produced "larger" families than the now considered acceptable two children per couple mold*) were from 1946 through1964 and consist of TWO generations not just one)

Why are all media reports trying to lie their way around this??? Maybe the REAL reason he is trying to dodge HIS BOOMER label is he was not really born in the United States and so does not/ or can not relate ... :shr:
 

NoPlugsNM

Deceased
I wouldn't write off the boomers as a generation gone just like I wouldn't suggest that the 13th generation is taking over. Obama is considered one of the most brilliant in this time, supposedly a shining example of his generation. I would call him the exception to the rule. He is a long way from proving that his kind/type of change, whatever it is, as we still remain very much in the dark about its talking/working points, will be effective or beneficial to the US. The balance of his generation is moving home with Mom and Dad, seeking Mom and Dad's financial help, loosing their homes to forclosure, the list goes on.

NP
 

gunnersmom

Veteran Member
Aren't W and Clinton the only two boomers we've had? Two generations and only two presidents? Ah come on, surely we'll get more than that!
 

Richard

TB Fanatic
Richard, because it's about the O man guy and FL is treating us to all sorts of these "pro O" stories lately....

O'man <- :kk1:

He is not my president. I did not vote for him.
I did not vote for his predecessor either......

That said, I think FL has set herself up as the prez of O'man's fan club......:shr:

yep, big O will sweep aside the old generation who are responsible for every evil :D

but Paul Voicker is older than the boomers, the Clinton mob must be getting on
 

Richard

TB Fanatic
I wouldn't write off the boomers as a generation gone just like I wouldn't suggest that the 13th generation is taking over. Obama is considered one of the most brilliant in this time, supposedly a shining example of his generation. I would call him the exception to the rule. He is a long way from proving that his kind/type of change, whatever it is, as we still remain very much in the dark about its talking/working points, will be effective or beneficial to the US. The balance of his generation is moving home with Mom and Dad, seeking Mom and Dad's financial help, loosing their homes to forclosure, the list goes on.

NP

there is no such thing as national generations as they all overlap
 

fruit loop

Inactive
The boomers seemed to have a particular mindset and value system. They still think the country is wonderful, believe in traditional retirement, their employers will take care of them so be loyal, etc.

Gen X and Y are more realistic.

Technically, the boomer generation lasted until 1964, but if you talk to most people born after 1960, they will tell you that they do not consider themselves baby boomers. I sure don't.

Yeah, I like Obama. He's smart, eloquent, and nice to look at. So sue me.
 

Richard

TB Fanatic
The boomers seemed to have a particular mindset and value system. They still think the country is wonderful, believe in traditional retirement, their employers will take care of them so be loyal, etc.

Gen X and Y are more realistic.

Technically, the boomer generation lasted until 1964, but if you talk to most people born after 1960, they will tell you that they do not consider themselves baby boomers. I sure don't.

bullshit generalisation, see my remark about non-existent generations, generations only exist in a family tree not at any collective level, the concept of any boomer or gen x y or z generation is false
 

mbo

Membership Revoked
The boomers seemed to have a particular mindset and value system. They still think the country is wonderful, believe in traditional retirement, their employers will take care of them so be loyal, etc.

Gen X and Y are more realistic.

Technically, the boomer generation lasted until 1964, but if you talk to most people born after 1960, they will tell you that they do not consider themselves baby boomers. I sure don't.

Yeah, I like Obama. He's smart, eloquent, and nice to look at. So sue me.

Then I cannot make heads-or-tails out of what "generation" you are from, since you believe in massive Federal government, entitlements for every damn thing, and massive federal regulation and control. So if that's not Boomer or Gen X, then you must be Gen Z.

:kk1:
 

Richard

TB Fanatic
Yeah, I like Obama. He's smart, eloquent, and nice to look at. So sue me.

thats why he was chosen as opposed to Jesse jackson who is none of those, but there are plenty of people with those attributes but doesn't make them presidential material
 

Dennis Olson

Chief Curmudgeon
_______________
Well, everyone knows how I feel about His Holiness the Chocolate Messiah. That being said, I am happy to see the cadre of "old white men" get swept from power. It's time for a change. Too bad it's the Anointed One at the head of it....


ETA: And FL, I'd appreciate it if you'd try to rein-in your pro-Obama fluff pieces.
 

Wise Owl

Deceased
Dennis, don't we have a forum for those "fluff" pieces? As in Alt news?

I say we shove those fluffy ones there as soon as they get a couple hours view which in mho, is 2 hours longer than they should get main page space.....
 

JohnSmiles

Contributing Member
How utterly twisted can something become?

'The American Dream', was to be able to give your family a good life by working for a decent living and retiring young enough to actually have some 'golden years' left.
A very noble and common sense goal.
The big 3, the unions, labor laws, safe working conditions . . these were all once part of that dream.
But it had one major flaw, and still does: it conflicts with Big Business making a killing and getting multi million dollar bonus checks.
And Big Business has tens of thousands of lobbyists fighting every aspect of it every day.
And they are brainwashing the youth and the underachievers of this country by constantly telling them they deserve much more, but its the unions and the baby boomers fault they don't have it.
'The American Dream' is portrayed as evil in todays world.
While the people who are actually destroying our country sit back and keep everyone busy complaining about racism, hate crimes, the war on drugs, gay rights, anything at all to keep them whining for more instead of working to get ahead.
Or allowing them time to think and UNITE to fight the real enemy.
We are rushing headlong into bailing out the elite, while main street is dying more every day.
These same people convinced Americans that we need to be globally competitive, knowing all the while most are too stupid to understand to actually be globally competitive, we must work for the same wages and lack of benifits as 3rd world countries who pay a few dollars a day.
And here hails the 'voice of change' . .
Seems so far he is lining up the same people who made all the wrong choices in the first place.
The only 'change' is that he has insured all are absolutely anti gun this time.
Every single one of them.
What HASN'T worked is the last 3 decades of ever more liberalism shoved down everyones throat.
California is a shining example of how far the libs will push it, even after proving over and over an idea doesn't work.
Its all about 'change'. . .
Maybe many of you missed the memo, but America has been 'changing' for decades.
And it has mostly been a complete and utter failure.
What we need is not change, but a reversal to what DID work.

Strong unions, where only one person HAS to work to support a family.
EDUCATION, not all the liberal lies being taught to our children.
A school system that teaches history as it happened, not as it is being told by many of todays 'teachers'.
Forcing our kids to GROW UP and be self reliant, not keeping them in diapers and trying to pass more laws providing for them in case they really don't want to work for anything.
Government HELD ACCOUNTABLE to the People, not simply free to garner as much wealth unto themselves as is possible.
FAIR taxation. We are already paying 20 times the amount of taxes that started the Boston Tea Party. And no end in sight.
I could go on all day here.
There has been corruption at all levels, but for some unknown reason the REAL corruption at the TOP seems to continue through it all unscathed.

Now, for all of you out there still under the illusion Obama has what it takes, think on this:
We as a country, are already bankrupt. Have been for years.
The SS problem is that the government has been siphoning off every extra dime it takes in and spending it elsewhere for decades. To the tune the GOVERNMENT owes SS over 7 trillion dollars at this time.
That is why SS is failing.
Not because of the 'baby boomers', like they want to to think.
With all the interest, the actual amount that SHOULD be in our SS system is well over 10 trillion dollars.
Now, there is only one way to get out of debt: STOP BORROWING and live within your means.
Its that simple. Its not rocket science.
And yet, with over 350 billion of the last bailout already spent but unaccounted for, our wise one is already pushing for 1 trillion more! :shkr:
Of course, there will be accountability this time.
Oh wait, didn't he and everyone else promise accountability LAST time?
And some of you are still BUYING this hs.
That, my friends, is the real problem.
Too many Americans have lost the ability to learn, and the will to act.
And our government is aware of it, and responsible for it in most cases.
The 'dumbing of America' was warned about 30 years ago.


And it has worked beyond their wildest dreams, btw.


Everyone wants to be a part of something, but few take the time to see what it is they are actually a party to.
Until it is too late to make a difference at all.
 
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