Monday, November 10, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
100 K Meets Obama in St. Louis
The word here is "Breathtaking....."
As I keep mentioning in my blog, the Obama movement transcends mere politics.
It is a social,and maybe even a spiritual movement.
The goal: transform the mind, empower the person. The power of race and prejudice to hold us back grows weaker....
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Palin vs. Chair-Comedy Central
Shown above were John McCain's two leading candidates for vice presidency, Sarah Palin (Left) and Chair (Right). Many experts were surprised that McCain didn't choose Chair, as it has extensive diplomatic experience, having been present for over 25 international treaty negotiations.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Threat to the American Middle Class
The Democrats this year have put the precarious economic health of the American middle-class front and center of their agenda. Republicans, still are in denial that we have problems.
President Bush continues to press that the economy is strong and that it's the democrats who are painting a bleak economic picture. Republican Rep. Virginia Fox of North Carolina recently declared: "This is not a failed economy. We are not in recession. What a shame that Democrats want to talk down the economy."
This sort of naivete hits the vast majority of Americans straight in the gut. I consider myself part of the middle class as most of the people in the US do. Over the last 10 -20 years it has grown increasingly more difficult financially. Just look around you, the cost of a college education keeps sky-rocketing for unknown reasons, the cost of health-care advances at 15% increases year after year, more people are saddled with huge credit card and home equity debts and then there is the threat of $5 a gallon regular unleaded hovering just over the horizon.
The U.S. economy doubled in size between 1980 and 2007. It's not that all of the benefits of the just-past era went to those at the very top 1% (although a very substantial chunk did); millions upon millions of Americans prospered right along with the super-rich. Now one would think that doubling the size of the economy in almost 30 years would bring much added benefits to the vast majority of Americans in the middle class. However, you would be wrong.
Let's take a look at the way people pay for college education, where rocketing costs and the declining availability of federal grants have meant that most families can no longer pay as they go to send their kids to school, but must borrow. That's left parents more financially exposed. What that has meant is that after they graduate, most young people are saddled with debt and must make a beeline to the best-paying jobs to help defray the costs of college.
Twenty years ago, loans were used to pay about 15% of the tuition, room and board and fees that parents and students paid for college. Today, they account for fully one-third, according to the College Board. That figure is 33%, which is more than double what loans were used to pay (tuition, room and board etc.) 20 years ago.
Similar changes have occurred in health coverage, which costs more today and covers less. In just the last eight years, employees' average annual premium costs have more than doubled, from $1,600 to almost $3,300, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Now, ask yourself, has your income kept up accordingly? Has your income doubled the the last 8 years?
For the vast majority of Americans, economic hurdles have become steeper just as the compensation for the super-rich: CEOs, Hedge-Fund managers, business owners keep going up beyond imagination while paying less income tax than middle class Americans. The Democrats realize that this is a problem. The Republicans are all too happy to see the rich keep getting richer.
President Bush continues to press that the economy is strong and that it's the democrats who are painting a bleak economic picture. Republican Rep. Virginia Fox of North Carolina recently declared: "This is not a failed economy. We are not in recession. What a shame that Democrats want to talk down the economy."
This sort of naivete hits the vast majority of Americans straight in the gut. I consider myself part of the middle class as most of the people in the US do. Over the last 10 -20 years it has grown increasingly more difficult financially. Just look around you, the cost of a college education keeps sky-rocketing for unknown reasons, the cost of health-care advances at 15% increases year after year, more people are saddled with huge credit card and home equity debts and then there is the threat of $5 a gallon regular unleaded hovering just over the horizon.
The U.S. economy doubled in size between 1980 and 2007. It's not that all of the benefits of the just-past era went to those at the very top 1% (although a very substantial chunk did); millions upon millions of Americans prospered right along with the super-rich. Now one would think that doubling the size of the economy in almost 30 years would bring much added benefits to the vast majority of Americans in the middle class. However, you would be wrong.
Let's take a look at the way people pay for college education, where rocketing costs and the declining availability of federal grants have meant that most families can no longer pay as they go to send their kids to school, but must borrow. That's left parents more financially exposed. What that has meant is that after they graduate, most young people are saddled with debt and must make a beeline to the best-paying jobs to help defray the costs of college.
Twenty years ago, loans were used to pay about 15% of the tuition, room and board and fees that parents and students paid for college. Today, they account for fully one-third, according to the College Board. That figure is 33%, which is more than double what loans were used to pay (tuition, room and board etc.) 20 years ago.
Similar changes have occurred in health coverage, which costs more today and covers less. In just the last eight years, employees' average annual premium costs have more than doubled, from $1,600 to almost $3,300, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Now, ask yourself, has your income kept up accordingly? Has your income doubled the the last 8 years?
For the vast majority of Americans, economic hurdles have become steeper just as the compensation for the super-rich: CEOs, Hedge-Fund managers, business owners keep going up beyond imagination while paying less income tax than middle class Americans. The Democrats realize that this is a problem. The Republicans are all too happy to see the rich keep getting richer.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Hillary rises to the occasion
Saturday June 7, was a big day at the National Building Museum in Washington D.C. At the center of the great hall Hillary officially endorsed Obama and suspended her campaign.
The whole event started almost 1 hour late in true Clinton fashion. I was at home and was able to watch the whole thing from my comfy couch. As she got into the middle of the speech, I was just struck by the raw emotion moving just underneath the surface. It seemed like a very very difficult speech to give. But it was the best speech that Hillary has given throughout the campaign. I honestly believe that had she found her voice, this voice, showed her nurturing side and exposed her relentless spirit at the beginning of the campaign, she may have ended up giving a very different speech.
But Hillary reminded her supporters of the futility of the "What-ifs":"When you hear people saying or think to yourself, "If only, or, "What if," I say, please, don't go there. Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
She rose to the occasion and 'stepped up' to put the party first. Her most heartfelt urging to her supporters: "The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States." That was probably one of the toughest lines to deliver.
Later on she went on to say, "And that's exactly what we're going to do, by ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January 20, 2009", was a direct and unequivocal statement of support.
This one speech had all the elements of greatness. It was inspiring in the midst of utter loss. It was hopeful in that democratic ideals and causes still live on. And it brought the first step of closure on a historic journey to advance the causes of race and gender in America.
Although one speech, however moving, will not heal the wounds repeatedly cut open again and again these past many months it is a start in the process of mourning, realization and hopefully reconciliation for the party. It is a daunting task no doubt. But if Democrats want to see progress in bringing the troops home earlier, progress in universal health care and a dramatic shift from the 8 years of the Bush mess, they have no choice but to make nice and make up. Otherwise......
The whole event started almost 1 hour late in true Clinton fashion. I was at home and was able to watch the whole thing from my comfy couch. As she got into the middle of the speech, I was just struck by the raw emotion moving just underneath the surface. It seemed like a very very difficult speech to give. But it was the best speech that Hillary has given throughout the campaign. I honestly believe that had she found her voice, this voice, showed her nurturing side and exposed her relentless spirit at the beginning of the campaign, she may have ended up giving a very different speech.
But Hillary reminded her supporters of the futility of the "What-ifs":"When you hear people saying or think to yourself, "If only, or, "What if," I say, please, don't go there. Every moment wasted looking back keeps us from moving forward."
She rose to the occasion and 'stepped up' to put the party first. Her most heartfelt urging to her supporters: "The way to continue our fight now, to accomplish the goals for which we stand is to take our energy, our passion, our strength, and do all we can to help elect Barack Obama, the next president of the United States." That was probably one of the toughest lines to deliver.
Later on she went on to say, "And that's exactly what we're going to do, by ensuring that Barack Obama walks through the doors of the Oval Office on January 20, 2009", was a direct and unequivocal statement of support.
This one speech had all the elements of greatness. It was inspiring in the midst of utter loss. It was hopeful in that democratic ideals and causes still live on. And it brought the first step of closure on a historic journey to advance the causes of race and gender in America.
Although one speech, however moving, will not heal the wounds repeatedly cut open again and again these past many months it is a start in the process of mourning, realization and hopefully reconciliation for the party. It is a daunting task no doubt. But if Democrats want to see progress in bringing the troops home earlier, progress in universal health care and a dramatic shift from the 8 years of the Bush mess, they have no choice but to make nice and make up. Otherwise......
Friday, June 6, 2008
A Big step for Barack.. A Bigger step for all people of color
My mom told me story this week about what happened at school. A little black kid came running up to her all excited. He told her, "My daddy said that I can be president when I grow up" and walked away all smiling.
This was a big week. Barack Obama made history by becoming the first 'person of color', non-white, minority, mixed race, multi-racial etc...etc..presidential candidate of a major party. On many levels, he has already won. He has taken all of us a step higher in the human evolutionary process by getting us all closer to a post-racial America. Now the big question is: are we there yet? The answer is NO. America is not yet at a post racial state. Many folks out there will still not vote for a 'person of color' for just that reason. But the statement this week gives a great indicator to all the world that we are moving in the right direction.
Whether Obama or McCain wins in November is anyone's guess. But what happened this week will reverberate for years, decades to come. Obama has broken through the white line of power that for 232 years ruled this country. I, myself, a minority, Asian really reflected on this change. I somehow felt more 'comfortable' to be in America. Not, just comfortable I would say, but more of a sense that I belong here, that I can more help affect this country even though I am not white.
The single most compelling achievement that Obama has helped deliver to all of Americans, immigrants etc... this week is the realistic message, that anyone, even from a poor, broken, mixed race background can rise to the highest levels and have an impact on the whole rest of us. It is a message that despite how the deck is stacked against us in the beginning, America can give each of us a chance to re-invent and re-make ourselves and be somebody.
This was a big week. Barack Obama made history by becoming the first 'person of color', non-white, minority, mixed race, multi-racial etc...etc..presidential candidate of a major party. On many levels, he has already won. He has taken all of us a step higher in the human evolutionary process by getting us all closer to a post-racial America. Now the big question is: are we there yet? The answer is NO. America is not yet at a post racial state. Many folks out there will still not vote for a 'person of color' for just that reason. But the statement this week gives a great indicator to all the world that we are moving in the right direction.
Whether Obama or McCain wins in November is anyone's guess. But what happened this week will reverberate for years, decades to come. Obama has broken through the white line of power that for 232 years ruled this country. I, myself, a minority, Asian really reflected on this change. I somehow felt more 'comfortable' to be in America. Not, just comfortable I would say, but more of a sense that I belong here, that I can more help affect this country even though I am not white.
The single most compelling achievement that Obama has helped deliver to all of Americans, immigrants etc... this week is the realistic message, that anyone, even from a poor, broken, mixed race background can rise to the highest levels and have an impact on the whole rest of us. It is a message that despite how the deck is stacked against us in the beginning, America can give each of us a chance to re-invent and re-make ourselves and be somebody.
Hell hath no fury......
No one is angrier than a woman who has been rejected in love.
Many people attribute this saying to William Shakespeare. However, this proverb is adapted from a line in the play The Mourning Bride, by William Congreve, an English author of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. The complete quotes is, "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned/ Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned." And this, in a nutshell, for the Democratic party is one big problem.
Allow me do some more psycho-analysis:
And such the 'love' that Hillary has so desperately sought from the Democratic party goes unrequited.
Wikipedia describes Unrequited love as love that is not reciprocated, even though reciprocation is usually deeply desired. The beloved may not even be aware of this person's deep feelings for them. This can lead to feelings such as depression, low self-esteem, anxiety, and rapid mood swings between depression and euphoria.
Need more be said?
Friday, March 28, 2008
Hillary's new Top Ten
I try not to burst out laughing how the Billary campaign comes out with daily 'revised' benchmarks as a basis for the super delegates to vote for the Democratic nominee. I thought I would throw in a several more. Here is the Top Ten list:
10. Super delegates should vote for the candidate who has won the most votes in states beginning with letters A thru N
9. Super delegates should vote for the candidate who win with the most votes from voters whose names end in -ez, like ramirez or cortez.
8. The candidate with higher concentration of voters per pledged delegate.
7. The candidate whose age comes closest to McCain's age of 71.
6. The candidate who has been under the most instances of sniper fire and got out alive to tell the story
5. The candidate who has the most experience living in The White House
4. The candidate with the most votes from folks over 60 , as older folks have more experience voting.
3. The candidate with the most votes from Americans who originally came from Mexico.
2. The candidate with the most qualified spouse.
And finally # 1: the candidate who is most white
10. Super delegates should vote for the candidate who has won the most votes in states beginning with letters A thru N
9. Super delegates should vote for the candidate who win with the most votes from voters whose names end in -ez, like ramirez or cortez.
8. The candidate with higher concentration of voters per pledged delegate.
7. The candidate whose age comes closest to McCain's age of 71.
6. The candidate who has been under the most instances of sniper fire and got out alive to tell the story
5. The candidate who has the most experience living in The White House
4. The candidate with the most votes from folks over 60 , as older folks have more experience voting.
3. The candidate with the most votes from Americans who originally came from Mexico.
2. The candidate with the most qualified spouse.
And finally # 1: the candidate who is most white
Let the generals do their job
I found this on Townhall.com a Conservative political website and it made me want to puke.
Another hypocrisy of the right and the Bush administration comes up again. This brings up the telling story of how the Bush Administration ousted General Eric Shinseki and Army Secratery Thomsa White. General Eric Ken Shinseki was the 34th Chief of Staff of the United States Army. He is the first Asian American in U.S. history to be a four-star general, and the first to lead one of the four U.S. military services. At the start of the Iraq war General Eric Shinseki strongly pushed for more troops on the ground and a different strategy then what Cheney and Rummy were gunning for. His is quoted as saying,"something in the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would probably be required for post-war Iraq.
Instead of letting the general do his job, Rummy neutered General Shinseki by announcing the general’s replacement 15 months before Shinseki was set to retire. This move made Shinseki a lame duck for the remainder of his term. This sent a strong message to the lower ranks of the military: if you don't tow the line, you get cut.
Next, Army secretary Thomas White was fired in April 2003 after expressing his agreement with Shinseki's assessment of needed troop levels in Iraq. According to USA Today, "Rumsfeld was furious with White when the Army secretary agreed with Shinseki." In an interview after leaving the Pentagon, White said that senior Defense officials "are unwilling to come to grips" with the scale of the postwar U.S. obligation in Iraq, adding, "It's almost a question of people not wanting to 'fess up to the notion that we will be there a long time and they might have to set up a rotation and sustain it for the long term."
Now, the conservatives want us to let the generals do their job and voice their views?
It is this narrow hypocrisy that got us into this quagmire in the first place, when conservatives bristled at ANY criticism of how the Bush administration was handling the war. Any critic was immediately labeled 'un-patriotic', even 'traitors'. And yet, here we are 5 years later and still struggling in the quicksand.
4,000 and counting boys, 4,000 and counting.... tick tick…..
Monday, March 24, 2008
Mission Accomplished: 4,000 and counting
This morning I heard on CNN that we had reach a new marker in the War on Iraq: 4,000 service men are dead. However, from all indications, the Bush Administration has not indicated any change in strategy aside from “stay the course.” Reactions from the public seem to follow partisan lines: liberals want to start to pull the troops out to stop a long- term rise in the numbers while conservatives argue that we need to stay on so these lives are not given up in vain. Both arguments have merit.
However, new economic and historical realities are pushing the American people to seek a way out sooner rather than later. First, despite what President Bush wants to tell us, most Americans realize that we are in the midst of a recession. Regular gas prices have reached a new record today at $ 3.25 for regular averaged across the country. Housing prices are spiraling downward and the middle class is being squeezed like never before. With this in mind, how can the Republicans continue to insist on spending $ 12 Billion a month on Iraq or if you do the math roughly $ 5,000 a second? Does this make any sense when Osama Bin-Laden is still holed up in Afghanistan sending out monthly news letters?
Next, the long held argument that if the U.S. were to leave Iraq prematurely would cause a ‘domino-effect’ and destabilize the entire region to fall into the hands of Al-Queda. This is appearing less compelling when you look at two issues: this is another ‘expert’ projection from the same ‘experts’ who predicted WMDs in Iraq. Can you still trust the experts. Once bitten twice shy I say. Second, let’s look at history. When the U.S. finally pulled out of Vietnam in the 1970s, all manner of expert projections called for a ‘domino-effect’ with S.E. Asia falling into communist hands. Did that happen? No. In fact, the opposite occurred. S.E. Asian economies took off in the 70s, 80, through today. So, can anyone be so certain about the post US Middle East?
The time is now to call for a timetable for withdrawal.
Candor of Barack
Well according to the latest NPR News Blog, Obama's poll numbers are on the rise after last week's fiasco. What struck me about Obama's response was his honesty, his candor and a refusal to throw his Rev Wright friend under the bus for political gain. (even though many view Rev Wright as crazy)
Instead of spitting out one liners and sound bites, Barack showed character, took his time to try and explain to the public his thinking, his views. I have attached a great commentary from the NPR Blog below:
Comments (Send a comment)
I believe that even though Obama was caught up in the media's attempt to prove him mortal, he responded like a true leader in these backtracking moments. Because of last week's controversy he may in fact receive better results than he may have otherwise. The fact is that the people already knew how he reacted while he was ahead, but now they also know what he does when he is behind. He sits back, analyse, and talks to the people. That's a true presidential performance. With regards to Clinton, she has not shown this type of character. In addition to that, now she could find herself in the middle of the controversy regarding the purposeful embelishment of her record and the mistrust concerns. I will be surprised if she can diverge the media's attention from this because it is a losing battlefield for her.
Sent by raul | 9:11 AM ET | 03-24-2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Hillary's Options.. there aren't many
This past week has been the most difficult and torturous for Barack. The ugly head of racial divide had to come up eventually, and did it ever. Thanks to Rev Wright, we were all dragged into this. Barack replied with a valiant effort in his "More perfect Union" speech. (you can read that analysis on this blog as well)Luckily for Obama the Passport scandal and Bill, no the other Bill--Mr. Richardson came to his rescue.
Now with all these problems you would think that Hillary Rodham Clinton would gain steam and be able to make a stronger case for her nomination. However, this week saw her options narrow significantly for a number of reasons:
1. Florida and Michigan for all intents and purposes will not be doing a re-vote. This will block here only chances of leading in the delegate or the popular vote when the last primary ends in June in Puerto Rico.
2. It is a generally accepted reality that team Hillary will not be able to deliver a 2/3 win in each of the next primaries to take the delegate and popular vote race.
3. 'Stealing' the election by swaying the super delegates to vote for her despite her lack of the necessary votes purely on the non-objective measure "elect-ability"
So, with all this what CAN, she do? Here are some ideas:
1. She can hope for the Wright scandal to only spread making Obama seem Un-American, Un Patriotic and make people wonder where his true allegiances lie.
2. She can find more Rev Wrights lurking from Obama's past
3. Risk a melt down in the Democratic party by further dividing the delegates.
At the end this bring up a interesting quote, Mark Penn told reporters after the Texas and Ohio wins that "Time is our friend". All I can say is that time is a friend in the same way Gov Bill Richardson is a friend.
Now with all these problems you would think that Hillary Rodham Clinton would gain steam and be able to make a stronger case for her nomination. However, this week saw her options narrow significantly for a number of reasons:
1. Florida and Michigan for all intents and purposes will not be doing a re-vote. This will block here only chances of leading in the delegate or the popular vote when the last primary ends in June in Puerto Rico.
2. It is a generally accepted reality that team Hillary will not be able to deliver a 2/3 win in each of the next primaries to take the delegate and popular vote race.
3. 'Stealing' the election by swaying the super delegates to vote for her despite her lack of the necessary votes purely on the non-objective measure "elect-ability"
So, with all this what CAN, she do? Here are some ideas:
1. She can hope for the Wright scandal to only spread making Obama seem Un-American, Un Patriotic and make people wonder where his true allegiances lie.
2. She can find more Rev Wrights lurking from Obama's past
3. Risk a melt down in the Democratic party by further dividing the delegates.
At the end this bring up a interesting quote, Mark Penn told reporters after the Texas and Ohio wins that "Time is our friend". All I can say is that time is a friend in the same way Gov Bill Richardson is a friend.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Republicans for Obama '08
Yes, they are a group that exist and getting larger. Let me share a posting I came across from Politico.com
"A lot of Republicans, like me, support Mr. Obama because of his ability to unite. We are tired of the way the world perceives America, where we used to, and deserve to be, an ideal strived for. Although I disagree with much that Mr. Obama says, his presence and character speak volumes about the President he will be. Hillary will lose in the general. Republicans don't like her; Independents don't like her. I'm not a Democrat, I'm a Republican; and yet, Mr. Obama represents me."- Jake, Conservative
A race about Race....
(image from www.politicalhumor.about.com)
Thanks Bill, Thanks Hill, we are now finally aware that Obama is black. We are also thankful that you guys would want him in the VP slot.
Experience vs. Change
Yes, I know you guys are probably sick of this discussion. We have indeed heard it all before, one too many times. However, I do want to point out some different angles.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's position is that she is tha "Smart Choice" as she has helped guide Bill during for 8 years in the White House and did great things as a Senator. Infact, she keeps repeating her "35 years of experience" as proof of her capabilities. If you do the math Clinton is counting EVERY year since leaving college. Barack could counter that he also has 35 years of experience that truely matter to Democrats: real life experience dealing with racial injustice, bad schools, the struggles of a single mother, working as a labor organizer, work in the Illinois legislature etc...
But the most insightful data on this argument can be found in plain sight: the way they have run their campaigns. It is interesting to note that none of the three remaining presidential candidates have ever run a large organization like a county, a state or even a business. None of them have that background. So, one telling way to predict how they may run the US government is to look at how they have been administering their campaigns which can be considered 'large' organizations since they cover 50 states, raised tens of millions of dollars and pay large bills.
John McCain has made it through a campaign that has had a mass exit of advisers last summer. His campaign went broke three times and finally rescued by a sweet $ 5 million loan from Legg Mason. Since he has started campaigning, McCain has raised $ 60 millions.
Hillary's campaign has faired better, but missed going bankrupt in Feb. She bailed out her campaign with a $ 5 million loan from Bill. She had to replace her campaign manager because of generally bad planning and excessive spending. A telling story is how the Hillary campaign got all their staffers rooms on the Vegas strip during the Nevada Caucuses while most of the Obama people stayed at homes of supporters. As of yesterday, Clinton's campaign has raised $ 178 million so far.
Barack's and his campaign came from nowhere. They had no support from the existing democratic infrastructure around the country like team Billary had. Yet, just in February alone they raised $ 55 million. This is the largest amount of money raised by any candidate to run for the White House ever. His campaign has generally run smoothly and had had no major staff turn over. Again I like to point out that he came from nowhere and nothing, yet the Obama campaign has raised close to $ 200 million so far through grass roots efforts.
The point that I am trying to make here is that when a man can do so much with so little, imagine, just imagine what he can do when he is given much more to start with.
Hillary Rodham Clinton's position is that she is tha "Smart Choice" as she has helped guide Bill during for 8 years in the White House and did great things as a Senator. Infact, she keeps repeating her "35 years of experience" as proof of her capabilities. If you do the math Clinton is counting EVERY year since leaving college. Barack could counter that he also has 35 years of experience that truely matter to Democrats: real life experience dealing with racial injustice, bad schools, the struggles of a single mother, working as a labor organizer, work in the Illinois legislature etc...
But the most insightful data on this argument can be found in plain sight: the way they have run their campaigns. It is interesting to note that none of the three remaining presidential candidates have ever run a large organization like a county, a state or even a business. None of them have that background. So, one telling way to predict how they may run the US government is to look at how they have been administering their campaigns which can be considered 'large' organizations since they cover 50 states, raised tens of millions of dollars and pay large bills.
John McCain has made it through a campaign that has had a mass exit of advisers last summer. His campaign went broke three times and finally rescued by a sweet $ 5 million loan from Legg Mason. Since he has started campaigning, McCain has raised $ 60 millions.
Hillary's campaign has faired better, but missed going bankrupt in Feb. She bailed out her campaign with a $ 5 million loan from Bill. She had to replace her campaign manager because of generally bad planning and excessive spending. A telling story is how the Hillary campaign got all their staffers rooms on the Vegas strip during the Nevada Caucuses while most of the Obama people stayed at homes of supporters. As of yesterday, Clinton's campaign has raised $ 178 million so far.
Barack's and his campaign came from nowhere. They had no support from the existing democratic infrastructure around the country like team Billary had. Yet, just in February alone they raised $ 55 million. This is the largest amount of money raised by any candidate to run for the White House ever. His campaign has generally run smoothly and had had no major staff turn over. Again I like to point out that he came from nowhere and nothing, yet the Obama campaign has raised close to $ 200 million so far through grass roots efforts.
The point that I am trying to make here is that when a man can do so much with so little, imagine, just imagine what he can do when he is given much more to start with.
Friday, March 21, 2008
What can Brown do for you?
What can Brown do for you?- goes the famous UPS marketing blitz. "At UPS, brown is more than a color -- it's a tangible asset that people associate with all the things that are good about our brand," said Dale Hayes, vice president for brand management and customer communications, in a news release. But I think it can also be an implicit (as opposed to an explicit) Obama campaign message. This is the way I look at it: Barack is the product of an African father and a white Kansas mother. As a result, Obama is not a black man. He is not a white man either. He is in-between. He is Brown. He was raised by white grand parents, from Kansas.
Because of this unique circumstance we have a potential president who can see the world from two points of view-and maybe much in between. I think this makes him uniquely qualified to help bridge the racial gap. No one can deny that America has become not just a cultural melting pot, but a racial one as well. We got blacks, Asians, Latinos and all the mixes in between. Why not some one who can relate to this reality to lead us?
So, what can Brown do for you ? Mucho, mucho!
The 'OBAMBI' Factor
"Barack is too nice," I've heard alot of people say, or "Can he be tough enough to be Commander-in-Chief?" Yes, these are really valid observations and concerns. For many, Barack is too 'sensitive' and poetic. Maybe he'd be better off auditioning for the role of 'Speaker in Chief'. What do you think ?
Bill Richardson breaks for Obama
Hey, don't worry Buddy. I got your back.
I just talked to Bill and Hillary and they're 'OK' with this..
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
New Polling Numbers
The NPR newsblog yesterday reported:
Poll: Obama Speech Doesn't Slow Clinton Momentum
The Gallup Daily Tracking poll shows that for the first time in a month, Sen. Hillary Clinton has opened up a statistically significant lead over Sen. Barack Obama in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Today's poll shows Clinton with a 49% to 42% lead over Obama in national Democratic voters' presidential nomination preference.
My answer to this is very simple:
This struggle is like a swing or pendulum. It is now swinging a little bit towards Mrs. Hillary RODHAM Clinton. At this point she needs to draw attention to any news to keep her delegates from marching to the other side. In the longer term, do these polls really hurt O'Bama? Probably no. It is a general consensus as Florida AND Michigan will not re-vote the primaries, that Hillary RODHAM Clinton will not be able to catch up on the delegate lead. Let's ask Mark Penn to show us some "statistically significant" data on that.
But then again team Billary keeps pointing out that it is not the numbers or delegates that are important, but that 'electability' is the issue. Well, need we remind them that George W. Bush won Florida on a by 576 votes and thus winning Florida and the presidency in 2000 ? Yes, dear numbers and delegates do matter.
Poll: Obama Speech Doesn't Slow Clinton Momentum
The Gallup Daily Tracking poll shows that for the first time in a month, Sen. Hillary Clinton has opened up a statistically significant lead over Sen. Barack Obama in the contest for the Democratic presidential nomination. Today's poll shows Clinton with a 49% to 42% lead over Obama in national Democratic voters' presidential nomination preference.
My answer to this is very simple:
This struggle is like a swing or pendulum. It is now swinging a little bit towards Mrs. Hillary RODHAM Clinton. At this point she needs to draw attention to any news to keep her delegates from marching to the other side. In the longer term, do these polls really hurt O'Bama? Probably no. It is a general consensus as Florida AND Michigan will not re-vote the primaries, that Hillary RODHAM Clinton will not be able to catch up on the delegate lead. Let's ask Mark Penn to show us some "statistically significant" data on that.
But then again team Billary keeps pointing out that it is not the numbers or delegates that are important, but that 'electability' is the issue. Well, need we remind them that George W. Bush won Florida on a by 576 votes and thus winning Florida and the presidency in 2000 ? Yes, dear numbers and delegates do matter.
A More Perfect Union in A House Divided
I am writing this because I was truely moved by this speech. I wonder how people think it can be so easy for us to move away from discrimination or the anger that black people feel after all they have gone through for many many generations. Rememebr, African Americans did not come to this country by choice. They did not purchase a ticket on any ocen liner or airplane. One analogy I like to make is to ask how easily a 30 year old woman can try to 'forgive and forget' her step father who raped her when she was a teenager. Forgive, maybe, but forget, no. Think about it? The typical white person wants to move past slavery and the Jim Crow laws and leave it all as relics of the past. Whites just want to move on. But in the urge to move forward many forget that it is not a process that is so simple. Anger, frustration and resentment linger. For the white folks, slavery and discrimination is 'water under the bridge', for black folks slavery and discrimination is 'water over the dam'. (what happens when water goes over a dam ?) You get the picture.OK let me get to my analysis. A House Divided Abraham Lincoln uttered those words in a speech made 150 years ago. The speech was the famous "House Divided" address with which he accepted the Republican Party's nomination as a candidate for the U.S. Senate. Lincoln lost, but started to change and re-frame the national debate on slavery. Two years later he headed to the White House.
Similarly, another politician from Illinois addressed the issue of race over a century later. Barack Obama's "More Perfect Union" speech this week was an exercise in courage and as he took a huge risk directly addressing America's race issue. Wow, of all the issues affecting the race to the White House, none is as difficult and potentially self damaging as pointing the spot light right on the country's deep racial wounds.
For those who may still not appreciate the gravity of his act, let me illustrate. It's like a political and historical version of a husband saying to his wife, "Oh yes honey, I think at this point in time with all that is happening we need to address WHY I slept with that other woman ten years ago." A touchy subject no doubt, fraught with minefields. The husband will say, "hey can't we just get this past us?", dream on.
Now, Barack could have played it "safer" and skirted the issue like all other politicians ? Absolutely, If he wanted to play the conventional political game. But then again, he is no conventional politician. No, in that speech, even for those who are conservatives or racist will agree that he was being genuine in describing the anger and resentment that blacks feel in America. The pain and hurt linger. How could it not ? When will Mrs. Spitzer be able to "forgive and forget" the governer? Probably not in this lifetime.
Now there are many commentators out there who have praised his speech and some who have called it an outright fraud. Well, I can see a a bit of their perspective. Barack maybe did not condemn his preacher enough, did not fire him from his campaign etc.....tried to use rhetoric to explain horribly ignorant thinking etc...... Many white, blue collar workers are going to be put off by this. Barack did not go far enough to condemn the man and his message. This is all a bit unfair, because if you do look at the issue, see Rev Wright speech, he was condemning the ugly, the America that stops black men for no reason aside for being back, that executes more black men in proportion to whites etc,.......
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