I've lived a lot of years and truthfully have had my share of burdens (like everyone) but I can't imagine what it must be like for Barack every minute of every day.
The Animal Odd Couple: A short Video from CBS worth the view.
Parade Magazine has posted an open letter written by Barack Obama to his daughters Sasha and Malia. Here are a few excerpts; the full letter is available at Parade.com, and the print version will be in the January 18th issue. See if you can get through it without tearing up a little.
The eloquent letter begins on a humorous note, addressing the girls' steady consumption of ice cream on the campaign trail, why he decided to run for president, and, of course, the incoming puppy.
Dear Malia and Sasha,I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey. When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
Dear Malia and Sasha,
I know that you've both had a lot of fun these last two years on the campaign trail, going to picnics and parades and state fairs, eating all sorts of junk food your mother and I probably shouldn't have let you have. But I also know that it hasn't always been easy for you and Mom, and that as excited as you both are about that new puppy, it doesn't make up for all the time we've been apart. I know how much I've missed these past two years, and today I want to tell you a little more about why I decided to take our family on this journey.
When I was a young man, I thought life was all about me--about how I'd make my way in the world, become successful, and get the things I want. But then the two of you came into my world with all your curiosity and mischief and those smiles that never fail to fill my heart and light up my day. And suddenly, all my big plans for myself didn't seem so important anymore. I soon found that the greatest joy in my life was the joy I saw in yours. And I realized that my own life wouldn't count for much unless I was able to ensure that you had every opportunity for happiness and fulfillment in yours. In the end, girls, that's why I ran for President: because of what I want for you and for every child in this nation.
He then goes on to address education, the environment, war, and the lessons their grandmother -- his mother, Ann Dunham -- taught him.
She helped me understand that America is great not because it is perfect but because it can always be made better--and that the unfinished work of perfecting our union falls to each of us. It's a charge we pass on to our children, coming closer with each new generation to what we know America should be.
He concludes by echoing the message in his victory speech on November 4th.
I am so proud of both of you. I love you more than you can ever know. And I am grateful every day for your patience, poise, grace, and humor as we prepare to start our new life together in the White House.
I'm sad to think that so many of my favorite bloggers are discouraged about this website that has meant so much to more people than can be imagined. The Waterfront Rally in Portland (below) seems so long ago now. We've all been through a lot. Having never blogged before, for the most part, this has been an amazing experience. Is it really over? Deep down we must know that this is just the beginnng.
Barack Obama Makes Passionate Case for Quick Government Action Today ~ DailyKos
In a speech aimed at galvanizing Congress and rallying the American people behind his massive proposed stimulus, President-Elect Obama today underscored the need for "dramatic action as soon as possible," the necessity for transparency as we move ahead in the reinvestment process and a promise to reform a "weak and outdated regulatory system."
Echoes of FDR can be heard in some of its passages:
It is true that we cannot depend on government alone to create jobs or long-term growth, but at this particular moment, only government can provide the short-term boost necessary to lift us from a recession this deep and severe. Only government can break the vicious cycles that are crippling our economy – where a lack of spending leads to lost jobs which leads to even less spending; where an inability to lend and borrow stops growth and leads to even less credit.
The boost, he explained, will focus on investment in energy, education, health care and infrastructure. "It is not just another public works program." "It’s a plan that recognizes both the paradox and the promise of this moment – the fact that there are millions of Americans trying to find work, even as, all around the country, there is so much work to be done."
In a nod to the importance of transparency--and the power of the Internet to disseminate information--he promised to post information on stimulus spending: "Every American will be able to hold Washington accountable for these decisions by going online to see how and where their tax dollars are being spent."
After a couple of decades of hearing government bashed at every turn as evil incarnate, it's more than refreshing to hear an unapologetic argument made that a vigorous and active role for government is not only a legitimate option, but absolutely necessary for recovery.
We'll see in the next days if Congress is getting the message that the next president--and the country--want action now.
The first snow at Crater Lake, Oregon. Now there is an abundance.
This is one of the most beautiful places in all the world at any time of the year.
When Mr. Bush officially takes his leave in three weeks (in reality, he checked out long ago), most Americans will be content to sigh good riddance. I disagree. I don't think he should be allowed to slip quietly out of town. There should be a great hue and cry - a loud, collective angry howl, demonstrations with signs and bullhorns and fiery speeches - over the damage he's done to this country.This is the man who gave us the war in Iraq and Guantánamo and torture and rendition; who turned the Clinton economy and the budget surplus into fool's gold; who dithered while New Orleans drowned; who trampled our civil liberties at home and ruined our reputation abroad; who let Dick Cheney run hog wild and thought Brownie was doing a heckuva job.The Bush administration specialized in deceit. How else could you get the public (and a feckless Congress) to go along with an invasion of Iraq as an absolutely essential response to the Sept. 11 attacks, when Iraq had had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 attacks?Exploiting the public's understandable fears, Mr. Bush made it sound as if Iraq was about to nuke us: "We cannot wait," he said, "for the final proof - the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud."He then set the blaze that has continued to rage for nearly six years, consuming more than 4,000 American lives and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. (A car bomb over the weekend killed two dozen more Iraqis, many of them religious pilgrims.) The financial cost to the U.S. will eventually reach $3 trillion or more, according to the Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz.
"We are the ones we've been waiting for." President-Elect Barack Obama
We have a lot to do in 2009. I'm confident we can.
The Obama transition rolled out a new version of one of its transparency tools on Monday: an updated website that allows interested observers to more easily read and submit questions to the staff.
A few weeks ago, the President-elect's new media team put together an "Open For Questions" feature that provided a platform for citizens to query the team on relevant topics. The move was hailed by good-government groups as a nod towards inclusiveness and accountability. Visitors to change.gov pushed to the forefront questions that they most wanted the President-elect to field. Now, they will have an easier time doing it. The new function to the site allows viewers to sort questions -- on which they can vote -- by category or topic. The Transition Teams explains:
"In this round, you can still view all of the questions that have been submitted -- or you can break down the questions by category for easier navigation. For instance, you can read the top-ranking question regarding Energy and the Environment and browse through other questions on the same topic by clicking on that issue. We think this change is valuable. It serves the other key purpose of features like Open for Questions: making your input easy to pass on to the members of our Transition team that are crafting solutions to these vital issues right now."
From a recent CNN quick vote:
Do you believe that despite U.S. President George W. Bush's low approval ratings, the policies of his administration will be vindicated by history?Yes - 30%No - 70%
President-elect Barack Obama takes a group photo with Marines after his workout at the Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base in Kailua, Hawaii, on Monday.From an article by Lawrence Jackson, AP Poll: Obama is man Americans admire most
