Thursday, Invesco Field, Denver
I am here early to get through security and take in this day of history. As I step down to the floor, rows and rows of empty chairs, framed by state signs, await delegates. A bluegrass band is warming up. Hundreds of journalists prepare for the story and I walk in the Denver sun past familiar and famous broadcasters – Wolf Blitzer, Katie Couric, Charles Gibson, chain-smoking Ted Koppel, Tom Brokaw…. The Democrats Abroad delegation’s seats are directly up against the booths of ABC, NBC, CNN, to the right side of the stage. We are across from Louisiana, next to Alabama, behind California. Very cool to watch the journalists work. CNN works the hardest; they hardly have time to look into the crowd as they are always facing the cameras. The other network staff seem to have a lot of time to snap personal photos, watch the crowd, pose for pictures and wave to the fans who inevitably shout “I watch you every night!”
All through the afternoon, people stream into the stadium. Delegates gather on the floor. The nosebleed seats fill steadily; Jerome, my husband, got a pass and is somewhere up there surrounded by the native Colorado-ans. Even after three nights of perfect political theatre, tonight people are telling each other they feel the call of history in this huge stadium.
Two things really stand out for me about this night.
Al Gore. The crowd loves him; the planet owes him. My gut reaction to his coming on stage was to feel the tragedy of the 2000 loss/stolen election. Gore’s message articulated this clearly: a lot of people didn’t think the election mattered all that much back then. The economy was okay. We were not at war. That luxury of nonchalance, if we ever had it, is gone. Politics matters. This election matters. Voting matters. Voting from abroad matters.
Barack Obama. As he comes onto stage, the crowd jumps on its feet, roaring welcome, 80,000 people believing together that we can elect a black man president. I am surrounded, crowded, by people standing and cheering. Waving flags. Crying, hugging. I can’t quite get out of my chair. Overwhelmed by the moment.
Barack says he accepts the nomination. In that moment, I feel disbelief giving way to something else, months of fight and anticipation fading into the terrain of a more familiar political moment. Here is Barack Obama, giving an amazing acceptance speech. But he is here, inside Invesco, inside the political system, leading the Democratic Party. Not an outsider, as Martin Luther King was. Not a long shot, not someone denying someone else a candidacy, not an up-and-coming, hugely talented political contender with potential. Instead: the Democratic Party’s nominee for President of the United States.
I rise with the other thousands in the stadium, and look up behind me at Donna Brazile on the CNN stand. She is looking at the crowd, looking at the stage where Barack stands. She doesn’t give anything away. She is watching with a kind of discipline. I am surprised she does not even smile.
But then, I am not crying in the way I expected to.
I am thinking that we need to get this guy elected. Tonight is an amazing night. But we need to go the full mile. I’m thinking what we will need to do to bring this one home, truly make history, and take our country back.
Tuesday
Unity
By now it is clear that I am an occasional blogger-wanna-be. My credential for “occasional” is that I seem to be a day behind, irrelevant before I even post! Here goes anyway:
Of the thousands of things that are happening here in Denver, the press has focused on the Clinton-Obama rivalry and a messy Democratic Party that cannot work together to defeat McCain in November. They just love this storyline. Press interviews with journalists from around the world proved this to me – all of them asked about the state of the problematic relationship between Hillary and Barack, and their supporters.
Like there’s nothing else in the world to be concerned about. The real story is about the issues that are being talked about by thousands of citizens here, convened by the top advocacy organizations, thinkers and elected officials this country has to offer. Foreign policy. Health care. Choice. Getting out the vote. The environment. Jobs. Education. Treatment of veterans and their families. To name a few.
Tuesday was Hillary’s day and our delegation joined with the rest of this huge gathering to celebrate her candidacy and all that it has meant to her followers and our country. The Democrats Abroad Global Primary on Super Tuesday came out roughly two-thirds for Obama, one-third for Clinton. Our delegation represents that proportionality.
Margo Miller (UK) and Jo Ann White (Italy), Clinton delegates in our delegation, showed us the way to unity. Dressed in full Hillary regalia, Margo and Jo Ann worked the crowds and the press. Interviewers who clearly were hoping for/expecting a tirade, instead got Margo’s and Jo Ann’s sense of history and pride, their solidarity with the millions of women who have and will break barriers…. Along with their full commitment to Barack Obama as our nominee.
The morning’s Women’s Caucus was a huge event. A gigantic ballroom was filled with women of every age, stripe, color and geographic persuasion. We beat on our plastic tambourines to show our support for the many amazing women who spoke. This included Donna Brazile, Ellen Malcolm (the founder of Emily’s List, an early funder of women candidates), and many others. Each of them spoke of our commitment to each other and to our country to continue to fight for women to earn equal pay for equal work, to have access to health care, and maintain the right to choose. Great to witness how much progress we have made (dating myself with this remark….), to see young women identify as feminists, and to see so many women of color in that room. It’s been a journey to get this far. And everywhere was the influence and inspiration of Hillary Clinton.
The best moment of the day was Chelsea’s introduction of her mother, and Hillary’s speech, when the hall erupted in cheers and a sea of white Hillary signs. She gave a speech that was a tour de force. This night gave us a chance to celebrate and acknowledge her contributions.
And the quote of the day is from the Women’s Caucus:
-- Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood USA & daughter of Texan Ann Richards
Sunday night – Preview Day
A whole lot of Americans are here in Colorado…..so much of my time is spent trying to find Americans in India, that it is actually weird to be back in a citizen-rich environment. All of them! Are! Voters!
Our hotel also houses the Florida delegation. There are a lot more of them than us, obviously. What we lack in numbers, we make up for as Most Jet Lagged Delegation Ever. The DA delegation -plus volunteers- has members from Japan, Thailand, Turkey, Spain, UK, France, Switzerland, Germany, Ireland, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Norway, Canada, Mexico, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Italy and of course, India.
It is beautiful out, sunny, clear and hot. The streets are not as fully loaded as in India, but there is an outdoor mela of inventive environmental products, protestors who are graphically anti-abortion, hawkers of Obamastuff, lots and lots of policemen who seem to like riding bicycles.
The first official event is the Interfaith Gathering. As we entered, kids pass out flyers advocating for the separation of church and state and against any future faith-based initiatives.
Being a Sunday, being a religious event, I was ready for something peaceful, perhaps contemplative…..but nah, immediately a shouting protestor about abortion had to be drowned out by putting the volume of the musical performers higher, and then hauled out of the convention center. Then another protestor started yelling, and the crowd started chanting O-BA-MA to drown it out….So much for contemplative.
The service included readings by an imam, priest, rabbi, pastor from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist and Islamic texts. There were drum-beating Native Americans and gospel-singing choirs. Not a cross, star, or HANUMAN idol, in evidence – instead, a vaguely Native American –looking symbol that might be used to sell, say, fair trade products. I figure that no one can take offense at a symbol that is so unfamiliar as to not look particularly religious. I seriously appreciated being in a place where faith could be acknowledged as the basis for the values and sense of justice that underpins one’s politics.
My husband, Jerome, and I met up with Stephanie Farqhuar , former DA India volunteer, and here as a delegate from Maryland. At a Maryland reception, we saw Elijah Cummings and the Gov or Maryland, and later had our picture taken with Phil Gramm.
On our way out of the hotel, we passed through the Massachusetts party, where John Kerry was speaking.
It’s amazing! All Democrats, all the time!
One of my favorites symbols of hope and mercy is the rainbow. To me and to many believers, the rainbow is a sign of the covenant that our Heavenly Father made with us to never again cause the earth to flood as it did with Noah. Why did He make such a promise?
Was it because we would ever deserve or earn special treatment? Those of us who have seen the Glory of God know that we are undeserving heirs. We know that His covenants with us come about because of His great mercy. In addition, we know that because of His mercy we are compelled to move about on this earth sharing His love, which moves us to be merciful and compassionate with those around us. Moreover, when we are compassionate and merciful we cannot help but to share God’s love with everyone regardless of race, regardless of color, and with everyone even if they do not agree with what we believe.
Because God is the focus of my life, by His mercy I try to look at things from a biblical perspective. Therefore, in looking at our top political parties, and what I have heard and seen from their leadership thus far, I decided to place a template of the rainbow from Genesis over them, so that I could determine which of the two parties serves God’s desire for mercy and generosity best.
As I took the template of the rainbow from Genesis and placed it over the Democratic Party, I saw a party that is much attuned to the needs of the people. Their presidential candidate, Barack Obama is a man that has given the bulk of his talent to helping those in need. His community activism denotes a desire to help those who are less fortunate by giving them a voice, which in turn fills them with hope. At the Democratic National Convention, people of many colors and races were amongst the delegates, and a diverse group of people gave speeches and was given a chance to share their voice. Overall, just as the rainbow from Genesis, the Democratic convention had a rainbow of many vibrant and beautiful equally distributed colors.
Then, I took the template of the rainbow from Genesis and placed it over the Republican Party, and I saw a group of individuals united by a desire to force their hand on the life of other people. Their presidential candidate, although familiar with warfare and capable of fighting with weaponry, has not shown a desire to help those who are in need. His lack of community activism shows that his passion is not people, but country. If I am not mistaken, that is the Republican slogan, “Country First” However; the country he is passionate about seems to be void of the majority of the people that live in it. The country that the Republican candidate loves can best be exemplified by what we saw in the Republican National convention.
If you recall, the different races and colors that cheerfully adorn the American landscape, were painfully and unequivocally absent at the Republican National Convention. I recall seeing a few (very few) African Americans there, and no other race or color was represented from what I could see. To be honest with you, I felt sorry for the few African Americans that were there. Can you imagine being told that you matter, being invited to speak, but not having a voice? May God have mercy on all who feel the pain from the Republican Party’s rejection. For it is painful to be told that you do not matter. However, it is eve more painful when they treat one as a fool. Because to have a show of force as their attendance make up loudly stated, and then to have them tell us that they care about America is a slap on the face.
So there is no match between the rainbow from Genesis, and the rainbow from the Republican Party. The rainbow from the Republican Party has only one color, which makes it exclusive and contrary to the hope of God. Who told them that rainbows have only one color? Who told them that one could have hope while people are being oppressed, mocked and used?
I propose to you my evangelical brethren, that you do not allow people to be used. I propose to you my brethren that you stand up and stop the abuse. I propose that you do not be fooled and confused. You know that the colors of the rainbow are many. It is time for the elite to be removed from their seats, and for a new leader to be appointed to lead those who desire to be free. For God loves all of His children, black, white, brown, yellow, or whatever race they might be. So do not be fooled, give America a chance. The only clear choice we have is Obama, not to be our pastor, not to preach to us, but to be a president that will care for all our people.
Author's Note: I wrote the following post a few day ago. Since then, the video We Are The Ones-Obama Speech Remix, created by myself and my partner has been posted. Blog 9/6/08: I am in the midst of the exhilarating feeling of experiencing a dream of possibility on the cusp of being launched into the world. Hopefully this will inspire people everywhere to begin to believe that we as individuals and collectively can have an impact on healing our world. Each and every one of us has something to offer. In my own experience, there have been many times when I’ve neglected to follow through on what seemed at the time to be a brilliant idea. Perhaps it wasn’t received well, or it seemed too much of a struggle to push it forward. A week ago, I embraced the following possibility that was set before me. Here are the exact words from a middle of the night journal writing which describes the conception of the idea for the use of my song, “We Are The Ones”, and merging it with the energy of hope and promise I had heard in Barrack Obama’s speech two days before.From Journal August 30th, 2008Internal voices woke me up. They showed me (link to music) “We Are The Ones”, with Obama’s speech interwoven as a viral video. There were pictures from the Democratic Convention especially emphasizing the “We”. I saw specific images for different parts of the song. “We are the hands” showed people waving the signs of change. For “We are the eyes” people were crying for hope and “We are the fire” depicted the fireworks coming out of the stadium. I heard the chorus “We Are The Ones” set to visuals of the huge stadium and the cheering. And the most moving part of Obama’s speech was set over the guitar solo. YES!!The next morning I took sound bites from the speech and an audio version of the song and began to imagine how they would fit together. I began to search the web for compelling photos from the Democratic Convention. My partner Keith Ranney and I then went into his media studio where the video began to weave Obama’s inspirational and profound message with a song that describes how it really is up to us to create the world we want to live in. Barack Obama repeats, “It’s about you!”. My song resounds with, “We Are The Ones”. For the past several days Keith has been researching the tech side of how to get this information to the most people effectively, while I have continued my music gigs and employment as a substitute teacher.We plan to launch the video by September 8th.
Author's Note: I wrote the following post a few day ago. Since then, the video We Are The Ones-Obama Speech Remix, created by myself and my partner has been posted.
Blog 9/6/08: I am in the midst of the exhilarating feeling of experiencing a dream of possibility on the cusp of being launched into the world. Hopefully this will inspire people everywhere to begin to believe that we as individuals and collectively can have an impact on healing our world. Each and every one of us has something to offer. In my own experience, there have been many times when I’ve neglected to follow through on what seemed at the time to be a brilliant idea. Perhaps it wasn’t received well, or it seemed too much of a struggle to push it forward. A week ago, I embraced the following possibility that was set before me. Here are the exact words from a middle of the night journal writing which describes the conception of the idea for the use of my song, “We Are The Ones”, and merging it with the energy of hope and promise I had heard in Barrack Obama’s speech two days before.From Journal August 30th, 2008Internal voices woke me up. They showed me (link to music) “We Are The Ones”, with Obama’s speech interwoven as a viral video. There were pictures from the Democratic Convention especially emphasizing the “We”. I saw specific images for different parts of the song. “We are the hands” showed people waving the signs of change. For “We are the eyes” people were crying for hope and “We are the fire” depicted the fireworks coming out of the stadium. I heard the chorus “We Are The Ones” set to visuals of the huge stadium and the cheering. And the most moving part of Obama’s speech was set over the guitar solo. YES!!The next morning I took sound bites from the speech and an audio version of the song and began to imagine how they would fit together. I began to search the web for compelling photos from the Democratic Convention. My partner Keith Ranney and I then went into his media studio where the video began to weave Obama’s inspirational and profound message with a song that describes how it really is up to us to create the world we want to live in. Barack Obama repeats, “It’s about you!”. My song resounds with, “We Are The Ones”. For the past several days Keith has been researching the tech side of how to get this information to the most people effectively, while I have continued my music gigs and employment as a substitute teacher.We plan to launch the video by September 8th.
If you watched Barack's acceptance speech last Thursday night, you may have already heard of Monica Early. She was one of a handful of ordinary Americans who prefaced his speech with her own story of why she supports Barack. She also happens to be a citizen of Cuyahoga Falls, in the great state of Ohio.
What you probably don't know is the special impact of Monica's story. It's hard to believe, but there were a couple undecided voters at Invesco Field--and what Monica said put one of them over the fence. This article in Newsweek has the story, about Malissa Garcia, a 23 year-old hairstylist who had heard some slanderous rumors about Barack:
She arrived a skeptic. Unlike the hyperinformed true believers who make the most noise online and on the air-- and, incidentally, like the vast majority of Americans-- Garcia "hasn't been paying much attention to politics this year." Before tonight, in fact, she'd never seen Obama speak... Saying she was "worried" by an email she'd received, Garcia, a "serious Christian," ran through an abridged list of familiar false Obama rumors: he "doesn't say the Pledge of Allegiance" [and] he was "sworn in [to the Senate] on an Iraq Bible"... Garcia said she was hooked when Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio... confessed that she too had received a "scary email," but had discovered, after checking the facts, that "Barack Obama is a man of faith, a man of values and a man of action."
She arrived a skeptic. Unlike the hyperinformed true believers who make the most noise online and on the air-- and, incidentally, like the vast majority of Americans-- Garcia "hasn't been paying much attention to politics this year." Before tonight, in fact, she'd never seen Obama speak... Saying she was "worried" by an email she'd received, Garcia, a "serious Christian," ran through an abridged list of familiar false Obama rumors: he "doesn't say the Pledge of Allegiance" [and] he was "sworn in [to the Senate] on an Iraq Bible"...
Garcia said she was hooked when Monica Early of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio... confessed that she too had received a "scary email," but had discovered, after checking the facts, that "Barack Obama is a man of faith, a man of values and a man of action."
This movement is fueled by supporters like Monica, who fought the smears in front of 37 million viewers.
Last night, on my "Success Strategies" radio show, two Black bloggers, African American Political Pundit and Adrianne George of Black Women in Europe reported back from last week's Democratic National Convention in Denver.
For Immediate Release September 02, 2008 Contact: Ramey Ko Asian Americans for Obama (M) 512.577.5729 ASIAN AMERICANS & PACIFIC ISLANDERS MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD IN DENVER
Denver, CO – From grassroots events to the convention floor, AAPIs made their voices heard last week at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. A record 364 Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) delegates represented their states and territories at this year’s convention in a 20% increase over 2004, including Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA, 15th), Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI, 2nd), Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA, 3rd), Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA, 5th), Senator Daniel Akaka (HI), Senator Daniel Inouye (HI), CT State Representative William Tong, CA Controller John Chiang, and CA State Board of Equalization Chair Judy Chu. This year’s convention program also prominently featured several AAPI speakers, including Sen. Obama’s sister Maya Soetoro-Ng, Congressman Mike Honda, California State Controller John Chiang, and Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth. They were joined by AAPI celebrities such as Daniel Dae Kim (Lost), Kelly Hu (X2, Scorpion King), Tamlyn Tomita (Robot Stories, The Joy Luck Club) and comedian Margaret Cho (I’m the One That I Want).
I think many in the main stream media and even the public forget this. While we all laud the bravery of our service members, we frequently forget about the huge sacrifices military members (and their families) make. In some ways, most people can't even comprehend it. They sacrifice their homes, close relationships with their friends, family, and children. They sacrifice their lives. For us. To defend the Constitution of the United States.
We need to remember that the President is the commander-in-chief. Service members are not responsible for the decisions of the President. Participation in a war begun under false pretenses by our President does not make service in the military any less heroic. Of course, I should disclose that I cannot be a neutral observer on this issue. I am part of the national leadership for Blue Star Families for Obama a grassroots organization for those with family members who are serving or have served in the military. My father is an Air Force veteran. My husband is a Navy veteran (a "veteran" as of 2 weeks ago). My brother is currently serving in the Middle East and I want him to come home quickly and safely.
What a way to start your day! No, I don’t mean the Eggs Benedict and French Toast we were treated to at breakfast. I mean by the speakers at our Wednesday morning delegation breakfast.
The featured guest for the morning was Governor Kaine. His Mom and Dad were in from Kansas for the convention and they came along with Anne to dine with us.
They say you can tell how people truly feel about political candidates based on what they say about them and how enthusiastically they say it. I’m that way about Tim, as any of you who have heard me introduce him or talk about him can attest. It’s easy to be excited and you don’t have to worry about what you’re going to say. Well, our governor feels the same way about Barack Obama.
It showed Wednesday morning. Tim was “Fired Up and Ready to Go”, and he proceeded to wake us all up in rapid fashion. He began by ticking off the progress of the Democratic Party in Virginia over the last several years and then shared his recipe for success for the party.
1 - Solve problems – citing the example of the Democrats in the General Assembly
2 - Stick together – don’t fall victim to infighting and present a unified front
His focus then turned to 2008. The Governor chided John McCain for not knowing how many houses he owns and for admitting that he doesn’t know much about the economy. He blasted the Republicans for calling Obama an “elitist” when his mother had to resort to food stamps to care for her family after Barack’s father abandoned them. He spoke about Michelle’s humble roots, growing up on the South Side of Chicago. Tim was in prime form!
In case any of you are saying to yourselves, “Gee, I wish I could have heard him”, I videoed the breakfast and plan to show it at our September MCDC meeting. Join us!
But, I promised you Tim and Terry. We were also treated to remarks from former DNC Chair Terry McAuliffe. Terry, as you may know is good friends with the Clinton’s, and does a darned good imitation of Bill. Put Terry in front of a group of Democrats and the results are hilarious. (Have I hooked you yet? September 18th, 7pm)
After breakfast, Terry sat and autographed copies of his book “What a Party!” that he had given to each member of the delegation. Rumor has it he may be thinking about running for Governor in ’09. In my opinion, he hasn’t paid his dues in Virginia, even though he has been very active on the national scene. None the less, he’s a very engaging and entertaining guy.
This was the only day we had a planned luncheon. Other days, we were on our own after breakfast. Today, we would hear from Governor Deval Patrick of Massachusetts. Governor Patrick is only the second African American ever elected to lead a state. Our own Governor Doug Wilder was first, and he was on hand to introduce Patrick.
After lunch, there was only a little time to work on my blog and then it was off to the convention. People who attend national conventions tend to do things differently, based on their interests and level of commitment. For example, my new friend Terry Frye from Bristol made it a point to attend every energy related forum and roundtable he could fit in to the schedule. I decided to make every effort possible to include my friends back home via blogging and to attend as much of the gavel to gavel convention proceedings as practical.
Wednesday night at the convention, we were going to hear from Joe Biden, our Vice Presidential nominee. But first, it was time for the second speech from the Clinton camp. Tonight, the world would be watching and listening to see how enthusiastically former President Bill Clinton would endorse Barack Obama. Anyone who saw the speech will attest to the fact that he didn’t disappoint us in any way. Not only was Bill vintage Bill, but he also unequivocally verbalized his support for the Obama-Biden ticket. The crowd responded with a rousing, enduring ovation.
Joe Biden’s son Beau, Attorney General of Delaware drew the task of introducing his Dad. It was a very emotional time, for Beau is preparing to return to active duty and ship out for the Middle East. The emotions were cranked up a notch as Beau related the story of how he and his brother were involved in a car accident with their Mother while their Dad was in D.C. preparing to take the oath of office after being elected to the Senate at the age of 29. His Mother was killed in the crash and his Dad debated whether or not he could take on the job of raising two boys while accepting the responsibility granted him by the citizens of Delaware in electing him to the Senate. When Beau finished, there was not a dry eye in the house.
Of course, Joe Biden showed us right away why Barack Obama picked him to be his Vice President. With decades of experience in the Senate and a natural way of connecting to people, Biden is the consummate statesman. He didn’t take long to cut to the chase and blast the Bush-McCain doctrine. Of course, we didn’t know it then, but now we know Joe will be up against Alaska Governor Sarah Palin in the Vice Presidential debates. I’m sure they call the Governor Sarah Barracuda for a good reason, but my prediction is that Biden will chew her up and spit her out in little bitty pieces! He is without a doubt qualified to be Vice President and stand a heartbeat away from the top job.
Next – All But Over, The Last Day
Wow! 85,000 people! Now that's a convention! I think Obama definately delivered. I was able to use parts of his speech to edify a few misguided souls. Well, I like to think they learned something but... I get a number of inflamatory,ignorant, and outright hateful e-mails from a friend and I thought I'd take a page from Obama's play book (with a little Jon Stewart thrown in for fun). I've made it my life's mission to catch that fly with a little honey, a pinch of satirical humor, facts, and a lot of patience. I think it might be working a little - I haven't been getting the nasty stuff as much. Hey, I'll take it! So, here is, in order of appearance; A copy of the e-mail I received, my thoughts on it, and quotes from Barak Obama's acceptance speech that pertain to the subject at hand. Do you think it is too harsh? Not harsh enough? Stupid? Cool? Uh, stupid? Let me know! Kenji7
"Homeless" (a reprint of the original e-mail):
I was talking to a friend of mine's little girl, and she said she wanted to be President some day. Both of her parents,
liberal Democrats, were standing there, so I asked her, "If you were President what would be the first thing you would do?" She replied, "I'd give food and houses to all the homeless people." "Wow - what a worthy goal," I told her. "You don't have to wait until you're President to do that. You can come over to my house and mow, pull weeds, and sweep my yard, and I'll pay you $50. Then I'll take you over to the grocery store where the homeless guy hangs out, and you can give him the $50 to use toward food or a new house." She thought that over for a few seconds 'cause she's only 6. And while her Mom glared at me, she looked me straight in the eye and asked, "Why doesn't the homeless guy come over and do the work, and you can just pay him the $50?" And I said, "Welcome to the Republican Party." Her folks still aren't talking to me.
Re: "Homeless"
Oh, ho, ho! You Republican scamps! Such a delightful, piquant sense of humor! I'm sure they wouldn't mind having the crusty, old, possibly schizophrenic (because the Republican party doesn't "believe" in funding mental health care, or any other kind for that matter), possibly drunk or high (Nope, no funding for re-hab either), homeless guy working around their house when their 6 year old Granddaughter is around right? Like people are just lining up to hire homeless people! As if $50 dollars could buy more than a couple days food and NO kinda shelter anyway! Please! Well, now wait, I'm being unfair. I'm pretty sure I saw a plastic garbage can for $50 (the metal ones go for around $80 new I think) at Kmart...you can live in that, right?
And, oh, hey! Are you folks enjoying the very last bit of social security money and Medicare benefits? Taking a lot of cruises on the Princess lines? Gosh, I sure hope so, cuz the kids and me would hate to hear that you didn't even have fun while you were dismantling our safety nets and gobbling up all the social security money that we put in the pot. Hey, thanks so much to your generation (and I mean all of your generation, Liberals too-but mostly the Republican party) for really watching our backs, great job solving the medical care crisis.
It's E..., Pluribus...., Unum! Okay? Let me break it down for all you "super patriotic" folks out there who don't know what "E Pluribus Unum" means. It is a Latin phrase written on the National seal that America's founding fathers created. You can find it on the scroll in the beak of the eagle, it means; "Out of many, one". Not..."Looking out for number Unum and to hell with all the rest of y'all"! Not... "except for people who are annoying and/or smelly". Out of many one. It is, in fact, this very philosophy that makes American governance so unique in the world. The Republican party would do well to remember that, since they're such "patriots" and all. Liberals do. Need proof? Suck on this! I took these quotes from Obama's DNC acceptance speech, you can read the whole thing if you follow the link below;
"For over two decades, he's (John McCain) subscribed to that old, discredited Republican philosophy - give more and more to those with the most and hope that prosperity trickles down to everyone else. In Washington, they call this the Ownership Society, but what it really means is - you're on your own. Out of work? Tough luck. No health care? The market will fix it. Born into poverty? Pull yourself up by your own bootstraps - even if you don't have boots. You're on your own.
Well it's time for them to own their failure. It's time for us to change America."
"...These are my heroes (Family, working folks, soldiers, Vets). Theirs are the stories that shaped me. And it is on their behalf that I intend to win this election and keep our promise alive as President of the United States.
What is that promise?
It's a promise that says each of us has the freedom to make of our own lives what we will, but that we also have the obligation to treat each other with dignity and respect.
It's a promise that says the market should reward drive and innovation and generate growth, but that businesses should live up to their responsibilities to create American jobs, look out for American workers, and play by the rules of the road.
Ours is a promise that says government cannot solve all our problems, but what it should do is that which we cannot do for ourselves - protect us from harm and provide every child a decent education; keep our water clean and our toys safe; invest in new schools and new roads and new science and technology.
Our government should work for us, not against us. It should help us, not hurt us. It should ensure opportunity not just for those with the most money and influence, but for every American who's willing to work.
That's the promise of America - the idea that we are responsible for ourselves, but that we also rise or fall as one nation; the fundamental belief that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper.
That's the promise we need to keep. That's the change we need right now....."
"And Democrats, we must also admit that fulfilling America's promise will require more than just money. It will require a renewed sense of responsibility from each of us to recover what John F. Kennedy called our "intellectual and moral strength." Yes, government must lead on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But we must also admit that programs alone can't replace parents; that government can't turn off the television and make a child do her homework; that fathers must take more responsibility for providing the love and guidance their children need.
Individual responsibility and mutual responsibility - that's the essence of America's promise."
"America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past. For part of what has been lost these past eight years can't just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose - our sense of higher purpose. And that's what we have to restore."
"This country of ours has more wealth than any nation, but that's not what makes us rich. We have the most powerful military on Earth, but that's not what makes us strong. Our universities and our culture are the envy of the world, but that's not what keeps the world coming to our shores.
Instead, it is that American spirit - that American promise - that pushes us forward even when the path is uncertain; that binds us together in spite of our differences; that makes us fix our eye not on what is seen, but what is unseen, that better place around the bend.
That promise is our greatest inheritance. It's a promise I make to my daughters when I tuck them in at night, and a promise that you make to yours - a promise that has led immigrants to cross oceans and pioneers to travel west; a promise that led workers to picket lines, and women to reach for the ballot."
You can watch the whole speech if you follow this link - you know you want to!
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid900881681/bclid900480414/bctid1764090280
Barack Obama's candidacy represents a revolution, but as his speech at the close of the Democratic Convention makes very clear, it is not the kind of revolution that will dramactically change America in some unknown way, but rather a revolution that will return America to a promise it still talks about, but seems to have forgotten how to achieve. My latest article details a somewhat different view of Obama's "change" message. Please feel free to read it here:
http://opinionstreams.com/blog/?p=42.
This past Thursday, Obama supporters gathered at Canyon Rim Park in Salt Lake City to watch Barack's acceptance speech under an open sky. ABC 4 News reported on the event:
On August 5, 2007, Obama spoke to an enthusiastic crowd at Park City’s Olympic Park. He admitted that he was a bit overwhelmed by the number of supporters who came out to hear him speak that day. As 75-thousand people cheered on Obama in Denver, hundreds did the same in this east bench neighborhood.
Check out the slideshow below to see what you may have missed:
Now that I've had a bit of time to digest the past week's Democratic Convention culminating in Barack Obama's dynamic acceptance speech, a few things have clicked together for me from the mish-mash of images and information we were provided. Granted, I'm about as far as you can get from a political analyst, so these musing are based solely on my impressions. My sources were mostly centered on C-Span coverage, with a little MSNBC, WCPT (780 AM in Chicago) radio during my commute to/from work, and much reading/research.
Some of the most ridiculous stories generated by the wingnut brigade revolved around the 'architecture' of the set for the Mile High Stadium event. While the stories themselves were amusing and mis-informed, I'm trying not to take anything either side does for granted. Too much is at stake and everyone knows it. So, giving credit where it's due, the Republicans are masters of creating facades. If nothing else, I'm paying attention to their seemingly overblown reaction to the symbolism and the intentions behind it - from both perspectives. Okay, holding that thought...
I'd like to turn to the Obama campaign's emphasis on regular folks. By spotlighting different people - from Iraq/Afghanistan war vets to unemployed/uninsured factory workers to nurses to truckers to teachers - they were able to stitch together a patchwork highlighting all the various voices of the middle and lower classes. The convention served, imo, to start rebuilding the bonds the Republicans have worked so diligently to dissolve. The common thread of those four days, in my estimation, was that we're all in this together and it's to our mutual benefit to exercise our prerogative to make our demands known and that our calls for oversight/reform will not be denied.
Another layer of this message can be found in the coinciding of the anniversaries of passage of women's right to vote and Martin Luther King, Jr's. historic 'I Have A Dream' speech during Convention week. What could be more appropriate than the two nominees be representative of those groups?! I find it hard to believe this was merely a happy accident.Also playing into my thought processes is the tidbit regarding the specific type of risk-taking our candidate prefers - in this case I'm referring to Poker. As has been reported in Time, Obama is a pretty good Poker player. Two comments in particular from the article stuck with me.
But Obama's risk-averse, methodical approach to five-card stud gives Link confidence in his potential governing style. "If he runs his presidency the way he plays poker, I'll sleep good at night," he says.
and
Obama, meanwhile, has succeeded, no less remarkably, by diligently executing a premeditated strategy.
At the Democratic National Convention
OK. I have now heard Michelle Obama’s, Hillary Clinton’s and several other convincing speeches at the Democratic National Convention including Edward Kennedy’s and the exciting speech by Brian Schweitzer,Governor of Montana. I am now calling for not only the next 8 years but for the following 8 years after that of a continuing Obama White House. (8 Barack and 8 Michelle) Michelle’s articulation of all that is possible for America and the World and Hillary’s unleashed endorsement of Barack led me to that proposition.
Interruption (4 days) Only now am I getting back to this blog post after attending the other two days of the Convention and traveling back to New York. I am more convinced of the legitimization of my call for 16 years of an Obama White House. Go Barack and Michelle. I love you both. You are truly phenomenal leaders.
Oscar Carter
Creating A World Community
He sees an unusually strong jump in support after the carefully choreographed event in Denver.
By Peter Nicholas, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer DENVER -- Amy Pearl is the sort of Democrat who made the Barack Obama campaign nervous. A volunteer who ran Hillary Rodham Clinton's Palo Alto campaign office during the primary season, she had doubted Obama's experience and arrived at the Democratic convention here unsure how she would vote in November.She left town Friday with her mind made up: She is for Obama. For all the glitter of a convention that literally ended in fireworks, the Obama campaign's mission was a simple one: winning over the Amy Pearls. Obama entered the convention as the nominal head of a Democratic Party cleaved into factions -- one devoted to him, another to Clinton. The four-day convention was his best chance before election day to cement the two halves into a coalition that would serve as a durable and expanded political base.Republican John McCain seemed eager to peel off aggrieved Clinton supporters with his choice of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. But various women's groups and Clinton loyalists said Friday that the Palin pick wouldn't spur defections."Gov. Palin and John McCain are a good match because they both want to overturn Roe v. Wade, they both want to continue the failed economic policies of the Bush administration, and they both offer more of the same," said Ellen Malcolm, president of EMILY's List, which works to elect female Democratic candidates and endorsed Clinton in the primaries. Buoyed by new poll results, Democrats wrapped up the convention feeling better about their prospects."We're going to beat the hell out of 'em in November!" exclaimed Don Fowler, a former Democratic National Committee chairman who backed Clinton during the primaries.On the convention's most important night, Obama could not have asked for a bigger audience. Apart from the more than 84,000 spectators who watched him accept the nomination Thursday in a football stadium, the television audience smashed records. More than 38 million people saw him deliver his speech on TV, apparently a new high, according to Nielsen Media Research. By the convention's end, the Gallup daily tracking poll showed Obama had taken a race that was dead even and built an 8-point lead. The margin could grow when the polling data account for everyone who saw the speech. Obama's bounce exceeds that of his most recent predecessor. Democratic Sen. John F. Kerry lost a point after his nominating convention in 2004. The average post-convention bump for Democratic candidates since 1964 is 6.2 points, according to the nonpartisan publication National Journal.Mending divisions in Denver was a feat of stagecraft, choreography and delicate ego-management. Crucial to the project was the Clinton family.In the end, both Sen. Clinton and former President Bill Clinton cooperated with the Obama team. But former associates of Bill Clinton said he was initially unhappy with the speech assignment the campaign gave him. He was asked to talk about national security when he wanted the focus to be the economy. His wound up delivering a speech that touched on both. One Clinton aide said Friday that the Obama campaign made no effort to force a single topic on the former president -- and that it would have been useless in any case. "People who understand him know he'll say whatever he wants to say," the aide said. "He will never give a speech on just one topic. Ever." Despite his palpable disappointment over his wife's defeat, Clinton made it clear that he wanted Obama to win: "Last night Hillary told us in no uncertain terms she is going to do everything she can to elect Barack Obama," Clinton said Wednesday. "That makes two of us." A convention meant to showcase Obama could have gotten wildly sidetracked by the roll call vote that played out Wednesday. Hillary Clinton had wanted her name entered into nomination. A roll call could have underscored the intra-party feuding. But Clinton aides said they yielded to the Obama campaign in the mechanics of the vote. It was cut off after 32 states and territories had weighed in, so as not to prolong the image of a party divided.The capstone was when Clinton herself moved to end the voting and make Obama the nominee by acclamation. "Hillary moving for acclamation just put the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval on the whole thing," Fowler said.Pearl, the Clinton volunteer from the Palo Alto area, said one consideration was especially important to her: Clinton's treatment at the convention. She didn't want to see Clinton disrespected. On the final day of the convention, Pearl sent an e-mail to Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean. She thanked him for working to give Clinton's "campaign and accomplishments full expression.""It totally worked. I told you it would create more unity than trying to force unity by ignoring the divisions!" she wrote. Dean wrote back in an e-mail: "I never had any doubt that Hillary would do what she did. She is a true star, putting the country ahead of herself."Not all Clinton supporters are appeased. Reports are circulating that some state delegations browbeat Clinton delegates into voting for Obama. Asked if some delegates felt that kind of pressure, Olivia Anne Morris Fuchs, a Kentucky delegate who backed Clinton, said, "Absolutely." But others are prepared to let the long fight end.Lorraine Hariton, a Clinton delegate, said: "There are various stages in the grief process. I'm at a place where I've moved on and realized how important it is for us to win the White House and go on." peter.nicholas@latimes.com
It was a wildly successful night for the campaign last night, with Barack accepting the nomination for Democratic candidate for President with one of the best speeches of his career, in front of over 80,000 people at Denver's Invesco Field.... and Buckeyes watching all across the state at more than 320 different watch parties.
Here's a picture from a watch party at University of Toledo:
From Fountain Square in Cincinnati to South Oval in Columbus, from Newark to New Philadelphia, from Alliance to Zanesville, Ohioans everywhere took part in history last night... and then signed up to be part of the Weekend of Action tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday (Click HERE to get involved).
Video of the speech is posted below:
