I used to buy kids shoes from this company called "Soft Star Shoes". They are up in Oregon and hand make all of their shoes. Anyway, I saw today that they sent Barack Obama (and Hillary too) a pair of shoes to fit them. They of course, don Obama's logo. Pretty cool! Check them out here.
So I just can't believe the latest words (ok, so this is SO last week, I know) out of Hillary Clinton's mouth. "Obliteration". Yep, "Obliteration". I have to admit that when I heard her say this word in reference to Iran possibly targeting Israel I just sat there in awe. I mean, I get it. Allies, Israel, defending, yada yada. BUT to say that we would go in a "obliterate" a country really pi$$ed me off. Where's the tact and diplomacy that I'd hope to see from my president? Are these more words that she's saying just to win a vote over during that moment? Most likely but it has left me wondering where in the world she fits in with this democratic party. Where does that leave her with the idea of "obliterating" women, children and innocent men?
For an article that I particularly liked on Hillary's "tough guy", I mean "tough woman" facade, see this "Combat and Exposure" article by NY Times Op Ed Columnist David Brooks. I will leave it at that and thanks Toni for sending that column my way.
So on a more positive note I have to say that I really enjoyed "Meet the Press" this past Sunday. Obama finally had the opp to talk more about his thoughts and actions with the "Wright Situation" and do it all w/o constant interruption. I liked how he answered the questions put to him and could see how he ended up in the pickle that he was in. He said that you sometimes have to act swiftly in politics and that you end up doing things in a manner where time might have made a difference but he said that he didn't regret the decisions or actions that he made. I appreciate that. I have had to make simliar decisions in my life when it comes to people that matter in my life and it's just what we human beings do....what we need to do at the time and what makes the most sense. Another reason why Barack is so real. He admits that he's a living, breathing soul doing the best that he can in any given moment. He's not in to obliterating Wright even though it seemed Wright was careless with his feelings/actions toward Obama. He was in to trying to preserve the man and even somewhat protect him until it seemed as though Wright was beyond that himself. I admire that rather than find fault in it. It takes a lot of courage and self confidence to decide that you can "support the man and not the action" when it's clearly affecting a campaign that you love and are striving hard to build. THAT's the reason I am growing to love this man as a leader of a country that I want to re-invest in. Really. I'm reading his first book right now and it is really helping me to gain a better idea of who Barack Obama is as a person, not a candidate and I highly rec it to anyone who hasn't had the chance to read it yet.
So my last thought for this post is that I really appreciate Barack's deliberate voice. What I thought was a nuance before, and now see as a deliberate response, is that it often seems like he's having a hard time staying focused when he's answering a question. I previously thought it was that he was trying to tread lightly with the press but have now come to realize that when he pauses, sometimes stumbles and then gets back on track it's for a reason. <Warning on the following statement: I do not have a direct line to Barack Obama, this is the info that I have received from his secretary. Ha ha!> It's not because he's trying to tread lightly or ensure that what he says is poltically correct but it seems more like he begins saying something and then pauses to deliberately evaluate what it is *exactly* that he is saying. I have seen him get on a roll where his conversation starts flowing but then he deliberately slows himself down and begins thinking more about what it is that he's saying and I began seeing the pauses, furrowed brows, and then the clear words that he so often speaks. I think I'm picking these things up from reading his book. :)
Anyway, my point to that is that I really appreciate that he is deliberate with this speech and seems to really evaluate what it is that he says before he says it. I'm tying Hillary's obliteration comment in to Obama's "deliberate voice" because it again shows the great difference between these two democratic candidates. It's also showing me how much Hillary seems to strattle the red brick road and the blue brick road and how she panders to whomever she's speaking to. I think I'll continue to follow the yellow brick road and follow the man who speaks deliberately and truthfully, even when it's uncomfortable all the while knowing that if you speak the truth then people will follow and you'll all end up where you want to be.
So I really do know how to spell our candidate's name but had to post about my children's learned enthusiasm for "Bak Obam". My four year old likes to chant "Go Barack Go! Go Barack Go!" and think good thoughts for him in regards to "winning the race against Hillary Clinton and then winning the race against ohn McCain". My two year old saw Barack Obama's face on my hubby's computer today and said "Bak Obam!" :)
I suppose the knowledge of Barack came to my children this winter during Super Tuesday while we were outside of a meditarainian resteraunt waiting for our food. There was this awesome work truck with what was kind of like a cattle trailer on the back and the driver had these huge Obama posters plastered to the sides. He was using a bullhorn telling everyone to go out and vote for Obama. My four year old, curious about the desire someone would have for shouting in to a bullhorn right in the middle of a busy strip mall said "mom, what is that guy doing??" He had also questioned just a bit earlier why there were people on the corner with big signs (Hillary supporters) shouting to people. At that point I had told him about a big race where two people were hoping to win and how much I wanted a man named "Barack Obama to win". He asked what the race was about and why I wanted him to win. Well, we strive not to be a highly competitive family and always try to remind our children that it's nice to support people on the other "team" when they win (although I AM finding it hard to practice myself with these never ending primaries!) ;) and told him that the person that won this race would help continue to make guidelines that people in our country will follow and that the person will help work to make sure that people can go to the doctor, have food to eat, etc. and that the people in the race have different ways that they think that they will do that. I told him that Obama seems like he really wants to help people like us and that he wants to help our country be a safe, happy place. He then promptly said "Well then I want Barack Obama to win this race too". It is just that easy for a 4 year old. :)
So from that point on my kids and husband have been following my desire to watch the primary results, endless CNN and other news sources (such as "Faux", I can thank one of the men on my friends list for that term) where I usually end up frustrated, wondering why in the world the networks have to be SO biased. I try to focus on the positive with our children though and try to help them see that it's important to support someone they believe in.
With all of that said, it was a very cute, warm fuzzy today when my younger son (2 years old in just a couple of weeks) saw Barack's picture today and said "Mom! Bak Obam!". My husband and eldest son said "Mom, did you hear T?" hee hee We all thought it was cute and he thought he was pretty cute himself.
So it all seems to start here. Teaching the importance of policital interest. Teaching children what really matters. It's not all of the bickering, which "candidate has outspent us 2-3 times over". It's about what matters to you, the individual, the family. It's about what you see for your future and for the future of your children. It's what you teach them is important, is worthy of your time and energy. It's what they see as mattering to you that affects them and leaves an impression.
It's my hope that Barack Obama isn't only awakening my generation of voters but that our generation is awakening our children and their future wishes to participate in shaping the country that they live in.
Well I have to say that each night I sit in front of CNN on pins and needles waiting to hear about what I missed throughout the day. <sigh> This is worse than a general election I swear. Today I'm supremely frustrated because I'm tired of this Rvd Wright issue. I feel so much empathy for what Barack's family must have gone through in coming to terms with the fact that someone you care about, who celebrated many joys in your life, all of the sudden decided to take the front seat and leave you hangin'. I'm tired of the media going on and on and on about it. I'm also tired of people not being able to say that our nation is in a sorry state right now and needs some repair. It's almost as if saying "we have pushed ourselves on to other nations and now, gee, maybe that's why they are ticked off", is such a heretical thing to say. Of course, there is the idea of going a bit too far as to where you are just completely insensitive, but our leaders have led us in to a war where we are pushing and pushing and pushing and I think that being honest about that shows that most Americans are sensitive to *that*.
Anway, back to my overall supreme frustration. I'm also frustrated with Hillary's major selfishness. We all know that she is only doing what she's doing so that she can either "win" the general election or else keep Obama out so that she can run again in 2008. She has to know that if Obama wins this gen election than he will most surely be re-elected and she won't have her day in the sun for eight years-if at all. My dh said "she knows Obama is a rising star and that she's a setting sun and she may not have her day after his term". So true and she knows it too. Again, selfish on her part really. She's clearly showing us all that it's not about the majority or she would have quit the dang race by now.
I have to admit that I'm feeling very worried right now. I chk'd the polls tonight and saw that Barack's ahead in NC right now but he's behind in IN. I so want him to take both and put this primary election to rest. We really need him to be focusing on McCain right now and I'm glad to see that he's sort of doing that with his speeches. Almost like he's saying "When I beat her, I need to have already been building my case against McCain". She continues to just focus on Barack and again, it shows his intelligence and shows how well his team is put together.
BTW, I have to say that Barack really has seemed to put together a wonderful campaign team. Kudos to all of them for doing such a tremendous job. The emails we receive from David and others have been really inspiring and uplifting. I need another one of those really inspiring ones though to help cut through my frustration right now. ;) hee hee
I think everyone should focus some light, prayers, whatever it is that one does, around this campaign so that Barack can take NC and IN and move on to building his campaign to lift our country up and to shut McCain out. Maybe having one time where we all do something together to honor this campaign will help! :)
I could go on and on but won't bc dinner's in the oven! If anyone wants to post their frustrations or their positive notes then please feel free to be the first to post on my new bitty blog!
