Obama's appearance in Miami was well attended today; around 30,000 people showed up! There were even hundreds of people who couldn't get in but standing outside for Obama. Unfortunately my family and I were some of those people. But before the rally started, my family got to see Barack's motorcade enter the park, and we saw him waving out of the bus! What an experience! This guy is a rock star!
We wandered around so we could try and hear a little bit of his speech from afar, but we couldn't make out much of what he said. Oh well, it's good to see how many people are supporting Barack Obama here in the Sunshine State, and it shows just how much people want him to be the President of the United States of America.
On an interesting note, on the children's website Nick.com/kpp (Kids Pick the President), Obama won with the American kid population! I hope in the next couple weeks that their parents will make the same decision. They're the future America, listen up! Barack-on! Go-Bama Go!
I just saw a commercial for Friday's "The View" saying that Barack Obama will be on to discuss his candidacy!! YIPPEEE!!!
This is what we need!!! More main stream coverage that will get to the women of America. Let's face it, the majority of mainstream Americans haven't even seen his speech yet, because they don't watch the news channels. They watch NBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, Nickelodean, Disney and Cartoon Network, or the specialty channels such as The Food Network, HGTV, or TLC. So we need to get him out there in the public eye!
According to a recent interview, some people in PA still think OBAMA is a muslim! COME ON!! Spread the TRUTH!!! Get active!
GO OBAMA!
Last night's debate between Democratic hopefuls, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, was commented upon this morning on the Norwegian morning show, on NRK1. The commentator was a political news analyst and journalist respected for his opinions on such matters, and I found that his main point was - and is - well-taken. He suggested that it was disappointing that Hillary Clinton had not taken the opportunity afforded her at the debate to appear any more 'presidential.'
I have to agree that this is of some importance, and yet it is so because both visual and verbal cues provide us with so much more information than we analyze, if we ever do so, in our daily lives. What is the image of being presidential? I want to approach my answer from the other side of the question: What is not being presidential? And the answer is, in part, I firmly believe, behaving in a way suggesting that one is 'guileless.'
What is guile - and what does it mean to say someone is guileless? Here is a concept most people understand in real everyday life, and they measure the merit they afford to others in many important affairs of life based on it. But let's look first at the definition: The American Heritage Dictionary defines guile as "treacherous cunning" or "skillful deceit," a "strategem" or a "trick." Someone who behaves guilelessly is someone who behaves artlessly, or with naivety. In modern usage, however, it includes more: a sense that one knows that one's moral or ethical behavior may be questionable, but who refuses, for any number of reasons, not to recognize or admit that one has, for example, faults, or has erred in any way.
We can count among the guileless President Clinton's replies to accusations that involved Monica Lewinsky. He was, frankly, un-muffable! Much of President Bush's second administration activities have involved taking positions on issues that appear guileless. This is something that we do not need now. And, it appears to me, that Hillary has taken the same lessons in appearing to never admit that she has something to learn - from anyone for any reason, at least not in public.
Granted, it is not easy to remain a front-runner while admitting that one has something to learn. However, that balance is better struck by being a bit more honest. Our new president simply must be willing to admit that they have something to learn - from anyone, and for whatever important reason.
One can talk about how guileless it is to consider running for Senator of New York state, when one grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois and lived for many years in Arkansas. (As someone who grew up a couple of miles from Hillary surburban home, this did really astound me, at the time.) And one can talk about guilelessness when one refuses to take responsibility for a smear which, from reporting sources, originated inside Clinton's own campaign apparatus, as she did on this last debate.
Seeing no evil, and hearing no evil is not the President we need. As Clinton emphasized last night (instead of 'sounding Presidential'), she did not know anything about these smears and accusations, but, by gosh, she had certainly seen some smeary things said about her! To which my response is, 'Well, how... utterly guileless of you, Hillary,' and, rather sadly, 'How predictable.' Speaking no evil, one's self, but having one's campaign apparatus busy trying to tarnish a merit-filled candidacy, is also not honest. In fact, it's rather guileless; it lacks moral certitude, albeit filled with moral posturing.
Given the heat of the fight, granted, it is inevitable for a point to come when one must point at the other candidate and say something specific. Alright, let's do that: Accordingly, it is noted in the Norwegian press that no candidate has much executive or administrative experience. And who is doing a better job of their new administrative and executive job, given that is a 'rush-to' join a race for President? Obama, not Clinton. Who has put together a group of people that have been end-running efficient and effective administration? Obama, not Clinton.
The entire appearance of sitting back and expecting that, simply because 'I am back,' as they say, one should pay attention, is anathema to our American way, which includes these elements: 'We do it', 'We do it right,' and 'Our actions shall speak for us' spirit.
Enough said for now on the appearance of being Presidential. It is something viewed in the faces of the candidate, in their own words and actions, but also in the organizations they have managed, with short time, to establish and run. Let's look at those, and then let's decide who we want to run the federal government's agencies and departments. Let's look at that and then decide who we want to be coordinating with Congress on new internal initiatives for improving America's economic strength and public and social service network.
I am ssooo excited! I'm a volunteer on the Obama campaign and I received a call this afternoon that Obama is coming to Salt Lake City this coming Saturday, February 2nd. We don't have many details yet, just that he will be here between 8:30 and 10:00 a.m. That night, there will be a party/fundraiser.
I will post more details as I learn them.
"Looks" like leadership.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – U.S. Senator Barack Obama will serve as the keynote speaker for the Leon County Democratic Party’s second annual Collins-Steele Dinner, which will be held on August 24th at 5:30 pm in the University Center Club at Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee. Tickets ($100) are available for purchase online here: http://www.leondems.com/ Payments by check, made payable to the "Leon DEC", can be mailed to Leon DEC, P.O. Box 1751, Tallahassee, FL 32302.
According to the Salt Lake Tribune's political writers' blog, Utah is very important to the Republicans:
One week after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced he's officially running for president, he flew to Utah for a fundraiser. Arizona Sen. John McCain is even topping that. McCain said on the Late Show with David Letterman last night that he's a candidate for president of the United States -- confirming what we already knew. McCain then hopped on a plane and headed for Utah. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be in Utah on March 30.
One week after former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney announced he's officially running for president, he flew to Utah for a fundraiser. Arizona Sen. John McCain is even topping that. McCain said on the Late Show with David Letterman last night that he's a candidate for president of the United States -- confirming what we already knew. McCain then hopped on a plane and headed for Utah.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be in Utah on March 30.
