I Believe

The American Promise.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 13:12:31 EDT

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.

An appeal to the best in us...

Peng in Gresham, OR — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:32:20 EDT

Obama family,

I urge you to please reach for civil discourse in your writings and discussions with others, whatever their political leanings. At the end of the day, we are All Americans, and we are all members of one American family, Team America.

One of Barack Obama's characteristics I admire most the respectfulness he shows to friends and foes. Let us strive to do the same as we address either McCain or his supporters.

Do you want others to denigrate Obama's name? NO. So please don't denigrate McCain or Bush.

Practice the golden rule.

Have a big heart.

Forgive people for being rude or obnoxious, and don't amplify their message. To truly stop hatred, stop it within yourself.

Please, when you read something that makes you angry, don't reply immediately.

Some of my favorite quotes to keep in mind:

"With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right." --Lincoln

"Ascribe not to malice that which can be adequately explained by folly." --Napolean

As you practice respect, over time, you might not convince someone to vote for Obama, but at least you give an impression that they have a friend in you and in Obama. At the end of the day, that person might not agree with your politics, but could respect you and your candidate.

Whether Obama or McCain for President, let's strive for a win/win November election.

(Of course, I want Obama to be our next President.)

Thank you.

The War is On...

Peng in Gresham, OR — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:49:07 EDT

The national debt is $9.4 trillion today. http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np Us youngins (+ those at heart) owe 30,000 each, but on what? For crumbling roads, schools, weak dollar, skyrocketing gas, and billions lost in Iraq. Guess how much the national debt was eight years ago? $5.6 trillion.

Woolly mammoth, under W and a Republican controlled congress lead by Sen. McCain, the debt grew by $4 trillion in only eight years!

Will you vote McCain or Obama?

Will you vote for the Senator that's demonstrated his economic acumen by irresponsibly increasing our debt by another $4 trillion, or the Senator we're not so sure of, and maybe that's a good thing this year. :^)

do not fear

Peng in Gresham, OR — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 12:11:24 EDT

Yes, 18 million voted for Hillary Clinton in the primary. But NO, it's a fallacy to believe they would still vote for her now, and that they won't vote for Obama in the GE.

Sentiments online and expressed in polls show if people in those early states had to hold their votes over, they would pass on Hillary.

What's probably closer to the truth is that a small fraction of those voters are disaffected.

Also keep in mind, the disaffected voters are diffused, spread across many states. So in strong Democratic or Republican strong-holds, they won't change the outcome; only in the swing states, whatever those are.

So there you go, smoke and mirrors. The 18 million votes is at best an unloaded pistol being used for hostage negotiation with Obama, and at best the 18 million votes is an imaginary water pistol.

Obama supporters, do not be swayed by the fear of losing the GE.

The language of fear works only if one buy into the fear. But when one stops consuming fear, one can start making the right decision for the right reasons. Then fear becomes no more.

The fear I'm not referring to is not Hillary Clinton or the spectre of 18 million voters, but the fear that Obama might lose, that we might lose. Let's not let the campaign or movement turn into a question of win or lose, but let it be about right and wrong.

So for all you Obama supporters, take heart. Think, do, say the right thing for the right reason, at the right time.

The Obama Doctrine of Dignity

Peng in Gresham, OR — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 16:37:53 EDT

I'm so glad to see some journalists going back to writing about the issues again. SPENCER ACKERMAN has wrote a summary of Obama's foreign policy, entitled the Obama Doctrine. http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_obama_doctrine "Barack Obama is offering the most sweeping liberal foreign-policy critique we've heard from a serious presidential contender in decades. But will voters buy it?" In fact, I would go further and say all of Obama's policy foreign and domestic is about giving people dignity. When people are treated as human beings, they will rise to the occasion. Take for example this grass roots effort, and the participation of so many people in the Obama campaign as a movement. So how about it, Obama Family? The new meme we must spread wide and far is "The Obama Doctrine of Dignity" at home and abroad. There is so much to absorb, that my mind is blown away at the possibility. Yes, Obama would spearhead us into "uncharted territory", and it is a very risky endeavor. But look at where we are and the choices we have, in the three candidates left. Can we afford to stay with either a McCain or Clinton again? [I'm very impressed because a mindset that can envision a Doctrine of Dignity requires a very strong moral center, and you can see the influence of Obama's Christian background from 20 years at Trinity and Rev. Wright. This issue must not be allowed to merely fade away leaving a lingering memory in people that there is something wrong with Rev. Wright and with Sen. Obama. To leave it at that is to leave a weak point that invites future attacks, further swift-boating. Rev. Wright can and must be turned into a strength for Sen. Obama, because Trinity UCC is Obama's moral foundation for his Doctrine of Dignity.]

Links to Rev. Wright's sermons in context.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 06:20:14 EDT

Today I came across these two links and followed them to view Rev. Wright's sermons.

Taken in context, they are demonstrably insightful and masterful performances, and contrary to the propaganda by Fox and CNN, these are not sermons of hatred and divisiveness.

But I'll let you judge for yourself. Please follow the links and listen, then judge for yourself.

http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/20/224958/631/841/481227

http://truthabouttrinity.blogspot.com/

Thinking of PA in light of Ohio.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 06:00:49 EDT

Will Barack be able to overcome the noise and obfuscation of Clinton campaign, and her brand recognition, and subsequently of McCain campaign?

Maslow's hierarchy of needs: people that are facing survival needs are not able to appreciate appeals to their better selves. They respond selfishly and to their guts and survival needs.

Unfortunately Ohio has shown us negative campaigning that focuses on fear-mongering works. Obama campaign has not found a quick answer, yet. The truth is the best answer, but takes time and is too complex and nuanced to reply with, especially a few days before the election.

But I see some hope...we have six weeks now? and Obama campaign gets tougher with each new gimmick Clinton campaign pulls, in ability to absorb punches, to deflect punches, as well as to anticipate punches.

My concern like everyone else is will there be a big enough coalition left after being ripped apart by the Clinton gang? There might be enough diehard people supporting her that will not vote this November, that our candidate would need the support of.

So, I lay it out for fellow Obama supporters, we might have to consider some sort of compromise and accept Obama's decision. There's no way many of us would/could accept a joint ticket with Sen. Clinton. But something other--there has to be some big compromise to bring the two sides back together. If Sen. Clinton loses the nominee, she has to genuinely endorse Sen. Obama so that her supporters would come back into the fold.

What can that be short of a VP spot, and could a cabinet post be acceptable to both sides?

power of focus and staying positive

Peng in Gresham, OR — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 00:46:53 EDT

Have a good article http://zenhabits.net/2008/03/the-magical-power-of-focus/ for you on power of focus, so you can use it to stay positive in the days ahead. We're already bombarded by negativity, and we expect more of it to come.

Instead of letting attacks get to us, and subsequently wasting our energy in response, let us develop an aura of tranquility that allows to maintain awareness of events while allowing us to respond with control.

We can't completely shut out all information that we don't like and thus lose touch of reality...but we must also maintain control and not respond reflexively with negatively.

If you become angry and stay angry, you cannot be an effective spokesperson which you are while canvassing or phone calling, because your anger will repel others. Negativity breeds negativity. Instead, overwhelm negativity with positivity. :)

Toughen up your skin.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 21:35:21 EDT

Obama family, we need to toughen up, and we can't let attacks get under our skin. Attacks on Barack Obama or his supporters are like attacks on us personally. We are right to fight angered, but we must not let anger cloud our judgement.

Whatever the intention of Geraldine Ferraro's comment, it has focused attention on color and race. Let me say this: we do not need or want this kind of discussion, at least not yet. Not until Sen. Obama is sworn into office as the new President of the United States of America.

Geraldine's comment shows that she believes Sen. Obama is where he is due to "affirmative action". But Obama family for the most part, we know that's far from the truth. What has attracted me, and what has attracted most of us I dare say, is Sen. Obama's many noble characteristics--because he is a fine human being and represents the best of us as Americans.

He's incredibly smart, is wise beyond his years, and shows good judgement, and is an inspiring leader through his words and deeds.

Responding to attacks on race or color makes it the main meme that is discussed in the news cycles, and stuffs race and color into the attention of uneducated and narrow-minded people, to play on their fears, conjuring up false stereotypes, and that lead them to vote against Obama.

For goodness sake, Obama is half white and half black. So you can also say he is neither black nor white, or that he is 'human-colored', like we all are.

Obama family, please toughen up your skin. We must work with veiled defiant hope to elect Sen. Obama as the new POTUS.

((((( Obama mind & heart ))))) *attacks bounce off*

May the best person lead us, the US of A.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:33:45 EDT

It doesn't matter from which party, but we must elect the person that is the best for the country.

Gas is $3.30 today, and it was only $1.20 seven years ago in Oregon. Food prices have gone up, people have been out of work. We probably had the highest rate of real inflation for a long time, but it's not being reported.

The press has become corrupt, and just about the most fair and accurate reporting being done are individuals maintaining blogs and reporting from the ground what's happening in America.

Why, because this Bush administration is most secretive and propagandizing, as well as the most corrupt.

I don't see Sen. Clinton or Sen. McCain being any different from Pres. Bush.

But Sen. Obama gives me hope, from his humble background, from how he's conducted the campaign cleanly, how he leads with inspiration, and how he intends to govern, by bringing people together.

Sen. Clinton, I'm sorry, it's not your gender. It's your judgement, or lack thereof.

Sen. McCain, I'm sorry too, it's not your age. It's your agenda, a continuation of the Bush policies in Iraq, Iran, and domestically.

Sen. Obama, I'm not voting for you because of your color. I'm voting for you because of your noble character. Though I'm realistic that you are human and will fall short somewhat, I pray daily that you will live up to our high expectations for you.

Free speech versus Positive speech

Peng in Gresham, OR — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:27:58 EDT

I respect free speech, because we need to be able to speak frankly so that we can keep it real. We also need free speech to release our emotions sometimes. People who are confused or angry by the assaults on our collective body need to vent.

However, venting makes only that person feel satisfied, and is very selfish. To others, it adds fuel to the collective anger and brings all of us down.

If all the negativity keeps up, it makes us become just another anti-Hillary blog, and if that's all we are, just a movement against Hillary, then we will become incapacitated by anger or made indifferent through apathy.

Without us, the movement dies.

We have to get back to being a pro-Obama blog and being positive, and the key benefit is that when we give off positive energy, we create a positive feedback loop for everyone, and the unselfish gesture adds more fuel to the fire that is the Obama movement.

Remember, before it got so ugly, before we got ugly, that people used to tell us we glow from knowing and believing in the character of Obama and the campaign, and ourselves?

We must get to that state again, and we can...once we let the attacks on us bounce off, rather than absorbing them, which then requires venting.

There's something about psychological reinforcements. Where your mind is, there goes your energy. If you are against something, your energy will run out at some point. (Or you become that which you despise.)

But if you are for something, if you keep hope alive, if you stand up for change that you can believe in, you won't run out of steam, because we will reinvigorate each other, and we will fuel Obama to victory over Sen. Clinton, over Sen. McCain, and over the lobbyists that now control Congress. :)

Let's be positive and become that which which we long for.

Keep hope alive. Yes we can!

Going Door to Door

Peng in Gresham, OR — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:15:42 EST

I just came back from walking my neighborhood and knocking on people's doors for Obama. 32 homes in all.

I was nervous upon knocking, butterflies inside, but smiling and calm face outside. The nervousness disappears once I became engaged in conversation with people, though.

Overall, it was fun, and it was really nice to be able to chat with my neighbors.

Of the people I talked with 6 people are Obama supporters, and most were seniors!, including two people who are among the million that donated to the campaign.

I gave out three registration cards for people to switch parties or register again after moving.

Not one person had anything favorable to say about Sen. Clinton, or said they would vote for her.

One person, my uncle across the street, says he doesn't like Obama for "talking with Canada behind closed door", and Rezko corruption. He said he doesn't want to vote for a Democrat, and maybe McCain. I will keep talking with him to keep him balanced in perspective.

Sen. Obama is being swiftboated on his greatest asset, his integrity and authenticity, and it is starting to get certain people to be turned off. Right now it's the people with the TV news on all day, but these people will spread their disappointment far and wide to their friends and relatives.

The campaign needs to respond quickly and forcefully to the American people, and stop the bleeding. I don't know what can be done, though. But please HQ, get your act together.

My other neighbor in front of my house is a vet and former lobbyist, and so he knows the BS of politics. What's important to him is not the war, which he 'knows' is going to be over, regardless of who takes over, but his worry is the domestic policies, and what Sen. Obama will do especially on the economy, and social services.

All in all, I like this mode of campaigning, face to face, than calling people over the phone. I haven't gotten over the insulting responses from calling certain people in Ohio. But hopefully I can start calling again, too!

Please, everyone, let's be positive and do what we can to elect Sen. Obama. We are in greatest need for a leader to inspire us to work together to solve our problems.

Yes We Can!

Why Obama

Peng in Gresham, OR — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 04:39:43 EST

He's incredibly smart, has good judgement, exhibits family values and moral character, he's been working for the American people for 20 years, he talks incredibly well, and does what he says, as well as he works hard.

He was harvard law review president, and instead of pursuing lucrative corporate jobs, he continued being a community organizer, a teacher, and a state legislator working directly for the people.

He had the judgement to speak out against the war in Iraq, in the midst of campaigning, when he knew voters could turn against him for daring to speak the truth that Al Quada was in Afganistan, and we should first finish the job in Afganistan, that Iraq would be a distraction, we would be burdened with terrile costs to the lives of our soldiers lost or that are maimed, and terrible costs to our economy, as well as lose the respect of other countries.

He's got 4 more years of elected office experience than Sen. Clinton (11 to her 7). 8 in Illinois state legislature. also, Obama is just as old as Bill Clinton was in 92.

He's a gentleman and very gracious when he wins and when he loses. Always compliments and congratulates his competitors on their positive characteristics. He doesn't hesitate to call out his competitors when they are substantially wrong.

he's run a clean grassroots campaign, and have exhibited an extraordinary ability to organize and motivate people to action. He's managed his money wisely, and has not had people problems, and there are nobody with big egoes on his team, though everyone is smart, independent acting, are leaders in their own rights. Past presidents have said the single biggest decision they made was to run for president, and the single toughest job prior to being president, was running for president. Sen. Obama has a 1 million voters, including a diverse group, who have donated to his campaign, and the average amount of donation is $100. Contrast Sen. Obama's brilliant campaign strategy and execution with Sen. Clinton's campaign. Her campaign has mispent their money, her people are infighting, she's fired a few advisors, and she has little cross over appeal to broad groups of voters.

The campaign is reaching out to all 50 states, and Sen. Obama believes in people in all the United States of America. Contrast that to Sen. Clinton who only has a blue states strategy, and only the larger states that she's won, and who has denigrated the states she's lost as unimportant.

He brings people together, not just those who agree with him, but even people that disagree with him on certain issues. Besides democrats, there are republicans, independents, libertarians. He's got the support of liberals, conservatives, and moderates. Contrast that with Sen. Clinton's divisiveness, playing the politics of gender and race-baiting, turning people against each other.

The president historically has been the most respected person in the country, essentially he/she is the first president. Whose virtues we emulate. He's a role-model for young adults such as myself and our kids.

If Sen. Clinton wins, what kind of statement will that make? Sure, she's a woman, and if she wins, many young ladies can look up to her. But what kind of message does it send to our children that women can only get to the top by denigrating her opponents and their supporters, running smear campaigns, fear mongering, rigging votes, and making contradictory promises to different constituents, and pitting constituent groups against each other. Sen. Clinton has also practically endorsed Sen. McCain, the republican candidate, over her own party's leading nominee.

We need a healer, because our nation has been wounded deeply and we have done things to others and each other that we are not so proud of, if we're honest in our heart. We are nation that values freedom, yet our freedoms are being taken away, and we are being spied upon by our own government. We don't like our soldiers to be tortured and we don't like torturing others.

For too long, politics has been about bullying one another, and leading with slight majorities. Rather I want Sen. Obama to be president because he can bring together a new moral majority in Congress. He's already doing it with the American people by forming a broad coalition of supporters. He's inspiring us as a leader, to work together to solve our country's pressing needs, and make this nation great again.

Most important, he inspires me, and I believe he is the right candidate for this time.

Will you stand with me for Sen. Obama?

In the Spirit of 1776.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 18:17:33 EST

Whatever happens today, I'm going to stick with the campaign, and it's for these reasons:

Please take a look at the hillaryclinton.com and barackobama.com websites and note the differences. Note how in the Obama website there are discussion threads and many people cordially debating issues. There are people from left and right coalescing together, all agreeing on principle, but all displaying the spirit of democracy. Note the vibrancy.

Then take a look at the hillaryclinton.com website and you won't see discussion threads, by which I mean it isn't even built in to their website to allow people to have discussions of any kind, except those that are approved of. There are no serious discussions, but a lot of agreements, and no attempt to hide their disdain of us.

We are all aware now that who ever comes to power will cast their shadow onto the culture and psyche of the nation. Now ask yourself, what kinds of government and society can reflect from these two leaders, if Hillary or Obama becomes president? Will we in the next four years live in an open government and a relatively free society, or will we have an autocratic society?

If not Obama in November, we will be left to choose the lesser of two evils between two candidates that are almost indistinguishable except that they have been essentially picked for us.

So, let today be a wake up call. What ever the results, let us work harder to turn this dream into a reality. Let us, in the spirit of 1776, declare our independence from oppression, and take control of our government, by increasing our efforts to help elect Barack Obama.

Against Dream Ticket with Clinton...

Peng in Gresham, OR — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 09:47:48 EST

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'.

Recognizing ingrained hatred, and having real dialogue.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:48:21 EST

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

Impressions of the Ted's Endorsement of Barack.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 15:22:19 EST

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.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:14:47 EST

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...

Peng in Gresham, OR — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 03:51:57 EST

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.

On Faith.

Peng in Gresham, OR — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:40:54 EST

Today my girlfriend Mariko got jealous because I spent all night and all day glued to the computer following up on election news and results. Well she gets jealous easily :). But I got her to watch with me last night's victory speech at South Carolina, and we are both impressed. I think this was only the second time she's seen Barack talk, and she was surprised that he didn't read from a teleprompt or use notes! Haha, I guess she has been used to seeing Bush on TV too much. This is huge difference between Barack Obama and GWB, in that Obama speaks from his heart, sincerely, profoundly and undoubtedly. Also, there is a big difference between GWB's faith and Barack Obama's faith, and how they ask us to believe them. There have been some trolls on this website asking / questioning why is faith so important with Obama, and claiming it's no different than Bush. Au contraire, mon ami, Bush's faith asks us to go blindly, ignoring our reasoning ability and sensibilities. Barack asks us to into the world with eyes wide open. Faith. Barack is Christian and faith has a particular meaning to Christians. Faith is also a quality shared in Buddhism, too. There is disagreement in terms of how much or far or what type, but it is there. More, faith is fundamental to the human experience. :) Secular faith is not too different. When you are driving down the road at 45 miles an hour in a two ton vehicle and other cars are traveling in the opposite direction at 45 miles in hour, how do you have the courage to do that? If you did not have faith in yourself and your fellow human being, you would not place yourself in that situation. But you must believe and have faith that that other person has the right training and will not all of a sudden swerve his/her vehicle into yours and instantly kill both of you. This is a facet of faith we all share, the faith in each other to do the right thing. But faith doesn't mean we jump into it blindly. As good defensive drivers, we keep our eyes wide open for signs that all is as it should be. Last week I made a post about how I felt the primary process and elections may be a sham, with all the media frenzy and attention on lies created from manipulation by that other campaign, and it was drowning out Barack Obama, the man and his message of hope, and it felt like the movement that was just about to start was going to be drowned. Then a reply post came from someone that said, Peng just have a little faith, in Barack, in the process. :) Thank you, whoever you are that responded. Boy how different it is now with a few days later and a thumping victory in South Carolina and Barack Obama carrying endorsements and JFKs symbolic torch from the Kennedy family, officially linking Barack to John F Kennedy, Jr., whom so many of us admire and have compared to the two together with. I have to say at that time, when I was told to have faith, I am glad to be reminded again. I wasn't offended. You know, I didn't have an angst that it was too Christian.
My response to all the negative press and the depressed morale, was instead of feeling helpless, I decided to become more involved with the campaign. I started to make phone calls and write letters, and talk more with others. :) I decided if we were going to lose, it's not because I didn't do anything to help. Last December I had already contributed $100 when I only had $600 left in the bank, and I am unemployed, with student loans to pay. I am working hard to start my own business, and spending very little just to survive. So it says a lot of my faith that I've placed on Barack Obama and fellow men/women who are inspired. There is faith associated with Barack Obama, and this movement to create a new moral majority that is inclusive of people from Democrats and Republicans, and it is not one that leaves behind reason. This faith of Barack Obama is not blind, but one that opens the eyes. This faith is about hope and seeing things as it is, while doing what you can to bring about that better future. See for yourself. Peng