Sen. Obama, you gave one helluvan exceptance speech. I thought the best part was the introduction of a new phrase to capture the essence of how you will lead the American people, with the phrase the American Promise. I believe this phrase is on the order of New Deal, Great Society, and Contract with America that have been used before. Like in those times past, we are now in a turning point where Americans have to rally together to get on the right track. What is that track? It's the American Promise that you have so succinctly stated. Freedom for the individual, balanced with shared/communal responsibility. It's the opportunities that allow one to have the hope of reaching the highest success in society while starting at the bottom rung. The belief and understanding that Government is first and foremost of the people, by the people, for the people.
I hope you continue to refer to the phrase "American Promise". I've been paying attention to the media, and most people have not caught up to it. It doesn't mean this phrase doesn't have power, or can't sway people's imagination. I believe in you, and Team USA, and you need a phrase that succinctly captures what your mission is about. "American Promise" itself will need to be fleshed out, just like New Deal was fleshed out.
The American Promise is not just for any group of people in the US. It's for native Americans, native borns, naturalized citizens, legal and illegal immigrants, visitors, people in other countries. Why has America been great? It's because of the American Promise to the individuals that believe, dream, work, and make it happen.
Thank you, please keep it up, and keep hammering the point, American Promise, home.
There are some reassurances against 'dream ticket' with Clinton as VP:
1. Listen to debate again to what Obama said. He wants everyone in his administration from highest to lowest posts to be working for the people. Do you think Hillary can be anything but self-serving?
2. Conflicting egos. Can you imagine Bill Clinton in the White House again, even as spouse of VP? What about more chaos that could ensue from that fox trying to garner attention?
3. Would anyone, not just Obama supporters, but American people feel comfortable having a conniving couple as Hillary and Bill one heart beat from the Oval Office?
4. Unity does not mean having to compromise core principles. There is no justification in the world, not for unity and not for electability. Besides, Obama can get Hillary's supporters, most anyway that are not die-hard about it. The misconception about Unity is that it has to include everyone. I do think Obama's tent is huge and can accommodate most people from many diverse views, but it is people who can compromise sincerely.
5. Lastly, the dirty tactics by Clintons against Obama was felt personally by this supporter. I can forgive them, but won't forget. How about you? How about Barack and Michelle?
So...know who/what you're supporting; believe and work hard to make the dream become reality, while trying not to compromise on core principles. :)
p.s. The thing about winning at any cost is a losing strategy for everyone. 'Dream ticket' is that, and at the cost of principle. Obama must win by doing the right thing, even if it's to 'roll the dice'.
I apologize for using the term 'Clintonistas' in the last post, and using it conversation. It shows how hard it is to eliminate hate even when I've mentally said I would stop it within myself. In the original story, I should have been tactful. But then I'm not a devious person. That's not me. I'm the kind of person that is honest with my thoughts, feelings and actions, and lately I have been out of character in feeling and showing hatred towards someone. I do not think of myself as any better than others. So I really need to reconcile my own heart. This blog has become popular with the Clinton people. They are joining our discussions. So let me try to be positive.
We shouldn't have a knee-jerk reaction against them or anyone that comes here looking for answers, and instead we should welcome them. So welcome, to my page. Definitely, let's have real discussions that accepts feedback from each other and that provides thoughtful responses. Please let's avoid spamming the discussion boards. Sincerely, Peng
Without the past, what leg does the future have to stand on?
We may not have been in the past to appreciate events when they occurred, but we can appreciate the echoes and reverbrations that the past struggles for freedom have won for us. The Kennedy family is a significant part of those struggles, and Ted continues that legacy today with his own work in the Senate for 40 years, and he's passed it on to Obama.
Would Ted be less if he didn't do that? Would Obama be more without the endorsement? Does it matter, in the end? They are both who they are.
The big story is they have a upped the challenge to Bill and Hillary while also planting the seeds of reconciliation within the party.
p.s. Did anyone notice Barack's 'thinking man' pose during Ted Kennedy's endorsement speech? :) Is his mind always on over-drive, even at events where he can relax a bit?
Barack seems to really embody the fierce urgency of now, almost with grimm determination. However, I personally feel his message needs to be tempered with a more sunny cast. In a future essay I want to write how I think an Obama-Richardson 2008 ticket would go a long way towards that, as well as add credibility to the policy front. Bill Richardson at least must become Secretary of State, if not Vice President.
So Mr. Richardson if it's a bargaining chip, you got to hold out for as much as you are worth! :)
pps. How about this marketing gimmick? Let's have Obama 2008 campaign Teddy Bears and Barack Bears, as well as Billy Bears.
The subliminal message is this: Every child has probably had a brown bear and know how warm and comforting the are. Barack, just sounds like one.
OK, maybe I'm being too silly. I do want to start lighting up, rather than continue to brood, so I can phone people with a smile and light heart.
End Game: White Queen's Gambit.
In the last post I said the wiley fox discredited himself. For all the goodwill he's earned since leaving office of the POTUS, he's reminded us all the negative reasons for the 1990's. The divisiveness then and backlash is a major reason Al Gore was not President at the start of the millennium, and not president now.
We can only guess how the last eight years would have been. But now we know that Al Gore really does have such global views and love for the country combined. He was responsible for the Internet, for writing legislation that funded projects for the Internet, and he is the champion on fighting Global Warming. These are two instances of a truly global perspective. And Al Gore could have rigorously contested the close race in 2000, but he opted for unity, which shows his love for our country.
That honest and intelligent man would have changed the trajectory of history. We might not have heard about 9/11, because the continuation in administration from previous would not have dropped the ball on counter-terrorism.
The opposition Bush administration had come into office pushing so hard and with such disdain for everything anti-Clinton that even sound policies of a Cinton administration were ignored.
Now, eight years later, we have another chance to start with optimism again with a new leader that can unite the party and the whole nation again.
But that wiley old fox has done it again! Last time his finger was seen wagging on national television how he did not have sex with that woman. If he had been honest from the beginning, we would have said eh, so what? Now let's focus on important issues... Now last week he was seen wagging that finger so vehemently denying again something that doesn't pass the test of credibility.
This fox's attitude seems to be that if he does not win, he's going to make sure the rest of us loses, too. Through a war of attrition, escalating tit-for-tat, he wants to reduce the game down to a draw. To this grandmaster of the game, and an ungraceful man, not losing is not not winning.
I am a party member who like many others have become energized again, by Barack Obama. He has changed the rules of the game so that it doesn't have to be zero-sum. It can be 2+2=5. Or 2+2=100! How can this logic be? It is the logic of synergism, when an emergent property arises from the interaction of small pieces that don't add up if normally summed up, but through the complex interaction transcends what was known. A car is an emergent property. Looking at the individual parts, the wheels, the panels, seats, the engines, etc. one would not guess what comfort and convenience in transportation the car can provide. Before the car, all these pieces were there, but the benefits were not realized until the pieces were combined and the first cars built.
What will a combined America look like with Barack Obama as the President? We don't know, but with synergism, and his vision, leadership, honesty, integrity, and ability to inspire the whole country again, we can have faith it will be something special that could not have been expected. Some things are hinted, though... :)
We are in the middle game, and we shouldn't take our eyes off of it. We should continue to do what ever we can to help Barack win the campaign for Democratic Leadership and defeat the wiley fox and his queen that he has sacrificed. But we should look at the end game, too. The fox is cornered, but he has still has allies, and our Knight may yet stumble.
What could be the major stumbling block is that we members of the party fail to unify, that we fail to live up to our own standards, to reach across divides.
We must begin the healing now, we must start to bridge the division within our own hearts, and reach across with a firm but gentle hand even to Mr. and Mrs. Clintons, and to her supporters.
Who are here supporters? My mom, for one, and I'm sure a lot of moms out there.
Party Unity Now.
Dear Mr. Obama, Please be nice to Mrs. Clinton and not maintain an anger towards her or Mr. Clinton. I have gone too far with my reaction against both of them, as many of your supporters have. But I realize it is wrong. Well, it was Mariko who said I was scaring her when I became rabid about Hillary and Bill Clinton while in defense of you. Mariko is my better half. :) I will not let my blood boil any more. Instead, I must strive to bridge the gap and cross barriers that separate you and Mrs. Clinton. We cannot let bitterness become us, and then we become the very hatred which we seek to diffuse. That doesn't mean my vote this November will be automatic. Whoever the candidates are this fall, I will examine their integrity, their honesty, their ability to lead and to build a majority coalition to get things done in Congress. A leader that is noble, not by birth, not by right, not by means, but by character. Who inspires us to be better human beings, and who inspires the future generations. It will be that person who _most_ carry those qualities out of the two parties that I would vote for to be the next President of the USA. :) Sincerely, Peng
p.s. Thank you for already inspiring me.
