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Obama Rises to Occasion with Middle East Address

For those of you, who, like me were asleep when President Obama delivered his much anticipated address in Egypt - go online and find a video of it or click here to read the text.  Obama's speech was the first such public policy statement made on Middle Eastern soil since 9/11 and many had questioned leading up it if the plan was a good one and if Obama could deliver.

In my humble estimation this was one of Obama's finest speeches - ever! It ranks right up there with his 04 Convention speech and his nomination acceptance speech from last year. One of my arguments in favor of electing Obama last fall was his unique ability to lead at this precise time.  His blend of experiences and heritages allows him to bridge gaps that have been hard to forde in the past.  Today's speech illustrated that ability and also his appreciation for his unique position perfectly.

His words did more than merely articulate a statement that we must live as a world community, that we have more in common than not - points which have recieved little mroe than lip service in recent years.  Today's speech legitimized the very truth of these statements and beliefs, and illustrated an appreciation for the beauty in some of our differences and the greatness in our commonalities. And yet, Obama extended the proverbial olive branch while remaining resolute in his commitment to protect the safety of innocents - in American and across the globe.

The speech was sturring, eloquent - Obama at his best. It's simply a must read.

Bravo, Mr. President

Had I been among the dozens of people scrambling for an autograph and a handshake after President Obama's first speech before a joint session of Congress last night, I would have had two words for him - Well done!

I thought the President's speech was a perfect balance of realism, passion, determination, reassurance and patriotism. I have not been among the folks decrying his lack of campaign stump speech flourish and puff.  He has repeatedly declared his intent to fix the mess we are in.  And that is what we elected him to do.  George Bush could cheerlead with the best of them - it wasn't too long ago that he declared the fundamentals of our economy were sound. But George Bush couldn't lead.  President Obama, last night, took yet another big step in leading this country around the corner to a brighter future.

President Obama was one hundred percent right when he said we have ignored our biggest problems for too long while allowing our displaced priorities to grow a massive deficit based on irresponsible tax cuts and wars.  I like getting a bigger pay check as much as the next guy.  In fact, I need a bigger check much more than the people bellyaching because their half-million dollar annual income may go down a couple thousand dollars.  But I also recognize that our schools have been strangled by insufficient funding for decades and as a result we are churning out kids and workers who can't compete on the world stage - in some cases they can barely read.  I recognize that people are dying every single day from treatable diseases because they can't afford healthcare. I know that there are children who wake-up hungry, go to school hungry, come home and go to bed hungry because their parent/s can't make a decent wage working full-time at the local supermarket.  I appreciate that we have been raping and pillaging our environment - killing our home - for decades and yet have done too little to curb our destructive ways. Yeah, a bigger paycheck would be great but that extra money isn't going to be all that fun if Campbell can't get a job in 20 years or if college is too expensive for us to send her or if her children can't play outside because the environment has been ravaged.

Government has a responsibility to provide basic services that allow each and every one of use to pursue our dreams and to make the most out of our lives. And it is about time our national budget priorities reflect that premise. Once we fix the problems holding our country back - the problems that threaten our ability to compete on a global stage for jobs and a national livelihood - once those problems are fixed then we can responsibly start talking about tax cuts.  Until then, it's long since past time that we all ante up and sacrifice for the freedom and opportunities that embody our American dream.

Last night, President Obama started redefining our goals and ambitions and national priorities.  His speech offered a vision of America I want to believe in and gave me enough optimism to actually believe it will come to pass.

Obama Stands Up for His Work in the Community

Here you go . . . Barack Obama is fighting back. But notice he doesn't get nasty, he doesn't get personal and - shock! - he actually answers the question he was asked.

Palin is Firing Up More than One Base

This diary from Daily Kos perfectly sums up how I feel:
The Most Hateful Display I Have Ever Seen In My Life (Updated)

by Muzikal203

Wed Sep 03, 2008 at 10:30:35 PM PDT

Granted, I'm only 25, so I haven't had many opportunities to see hate. But what I witnessed tonight in watching the RNC was just too much. I would write a long diary expounding on the hurt and the hatred, but those people are NOT going to steal my joy. This election is not about building up America to those people, it's about tearing apart our will to fight. They want us to quit, to give up. They figure if we see them being "strong" we'll retreat and let them have their way. They think they can bully their way into the White House. Well I have 3 words for any of those hateful, mean, spiteful people if they are reading this: Not. This. Time.

I have a candidate I believe in. I have donated more than I ever thought possible to a campaign that I feel really cares about what happens to me, and what kind of country will be left for any children I'll have in the future, and I will be donating more.

The convention I saw tonight is a marked difference in what I saw last week. Last week it was a celebration, yes there were some punches thrown, but nothing like the vitriol I saw tonight.

Well this is tonight's therapy. The haters will not win this time. We will not give up this time. Our will to fight will get STRONGER not WEAKER. In the words of our candidate (who is being disrespected and belittled left and right but still manages to treat people who don't deserve it with respect). ENOUGH! We will not allow fear to defeat hope.

Eight is Enough

I've been mulling over what to write about Barack Obama's acceptance speech for hours. It took me a while to settle into sleep last night I was so fired up. WOW! is the only word I can think of to describe it.

Trying to get me to follow in Keith Olbermann's week of baseball analogies, Adam asked me immediately following what baseball phrase I would use but a sports cliche was too trite. I told him instead that Obama had just landed on the moon.

So, since there is really nothing I can do or write that will do justice to the artistry and brilliance that transpired last night . . . I decided to go through the speech again and pull out the highlights that most moved me. The problem is, as I look through my transcript it's more orange than white. And so I will share only one passage that struck me most personally and summed up what is truly at stake for me in this election: Campbell's future.

"And now is the time to keep the promise of equal pay for an equal days work, because I want my daughters to have the exact same opportunities as your sons."

It is not the pay equity that stirs me - though I do hope that Campbell is rewarded with that - it is the knowledge, the ability to feel that he shares my desire for a better world. It is knowing that when he looks at his beautiful girls he is overcome with the same love and hope and determination that I feel when I look at Campbell. These feelings capture the emotional attachment I have for Barack Obama.

To capture the intellectual attachment I need look no further than his summary paragraph - it captures the essence of what my mind tells me needs to - indeed must - happen.

"America we cannot turn back. Not with so much work to be done. Not with so many children to educate, and so many veterans to care for. Not with an economy to fix and cities to rebuild and farms to save. Not with so many families to protect and so many lives to mend. America, we cannot turn back. We cannot walk alone. At this moment, in this election, we must pledge once more to march into the future. Let us keep that promise - that American promise - and in the words of Scripture hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess."

That, quit simply, is why eight is more than enough.

New Obama Ad Offers a Catchy Tune

Love the new Obama ad spot!

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Michelle Obama Follow-up

I just rewatched Michelle Obama's speech and am amazed anew. I teared up in the same places. I'm not sure how any mother can watch that and not tear up at the story of Barack bringing their first baby home and the desire to leave the world "as it should be" for our kids.

Here is the video of Barack talking with Michelle and the girls right after the speech. Too cute! And I concur wholeheartedly with Keith Olbermann.  The James Carvilles and Pat Buchanans out there who think her speech was too touchy feely and didn't attack McCain enough, etc. are idiots. (Of course, I have looooooooong wondered when Democrats will stop listening to James Carville.  He is such a blow hard. Then maybe nobody does listen to him except the dummies of the MSM.)

Enjoy the video . . . It is sure to bring a smile to your face.

Straight Shooters Only - No Pandering Here

One of the character traits Barack Obama has highlighted throughout his campaign is that he is a straight shooter.  It's part of his new politics.  While there have been times when other aspects of his change movement have seem blurred - ads that dance on the line of negativity or seemingly changed positions - one thing has remained constant. Barack Obama will always explain why he voted one way or why he feels another. There is very little hedging or equivocating. He will justify his positions and then leave you to decide if you can live with his choice.

Here is a classic example. He was recently called out by a fired-up supporter and he had the guts to tell her she was wrong. He then very thoughtfully and respectfully explained why she was wrong.



It is this sincerity and thoughtfulness that most impress me about Barack Obama. None of us are ever going to find a candidate that we agree with 100% of the time. But at least in Obama, when I don't agree with him I feel confident that his decision was reached after a great deal of consideration and thought.  And this confidence is supported by his willingness to walk you through his thought process. You won't hear any "because I said so" or "because I'm the President" statements here.  That is a wonderful change of pace that I look forward to.

The Power of Words

After 8 years of policies that have battered US standing abroad, that have made enemies of our friends and that left our current President shying away from protesters and rotten produce last time he toured Europe, this image is reassuring:

Ah, change we can believe in.  And by we I mean the whole world.

And while we are noting the contrast between hanging likeness and monstrous crowds of adoring onlookers . . . One must note the striking difference between Bush's struggle to even use the English language and Obama's mastery of it.  The man has a way with words . . . check out the latest in his long line of stirring speeches.

NYT Chronicles Impact of Organizing Days on Obama

In Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama spends a good deal of time discussing his days as a community organizer in Chicago.  This is not surprising as he has talked openly of these experiences on the campaign trail as well.  As I read Dreams I was struck by how relevant the organizing experience was to the Barack Obama running for President today. I could see many of his foundational principles taking shape not the least of which the importance of empowering citizens - a clear theme of his candidacy.

Today's NYT article "The Long Run" gives a good snapshot of the more detailed portrait contained in Dreams. I would recommend reading the book, but if you don't have time or aren't sure you're interested, today's article is a great footnotes version.