Living through history...

I know everyone (i.e. my Mum, Lisa, Lisa's family etc) thinks I'm nuts. But really, why I get so excited by Obama is that people don't seem to realize how historically important this is, and how lucky we are to be living in these times. I'm not talking about him being 'the first Black Nominee' or anything like that (although that's cool enough), I'm talking about the obvious (to me anyway) conclusion that Obama is a once in a generation leader, someone that will fundamentally change not just the country, but the world that we live in. As is often the case in the course of human history, it's often at the worst of times that a leader emerges to lead us through and out of those times, forward to a better place and time. Now, I believe, is such a time.

So, I get excited, and frustrated (looks like angry to someone at the receiving end but it really isn't), at my inability to fully explain to people why this man is (or can be) so important to so many people in the world. Not because his policies are radically different (they aren't). Not because he's black (he is). Not because he's an idealist (he isn't). It's because, more than anyone in this time, he is able to harness the good will, and ingenuity, and spirit that have made this country, and this world, what it is today.

In the end, Obama is just a dude with some good ideas, and a great way with speeches, but the people who believe in the direction he articulates, are the ones that will be empowered and inspired to start to go down that long and difficult path.

So anyways, here's Michelle, his wife. Take a look at this and try to remain cynical...

Obamas Sister!

This is interesting. Gives you an idea of who Barack is from his sisters perspective. Like her brother, seems like a genuine and thoughtful person. Enjoy!

Click To Play

Country I Love...

Nice ad. Obamas first 'General Election' ad to run in 18 states. It's aimed at people who don't know who he is, or have only heard mistruths and rumors from those Wingnutty emails. I like this ad - the more people see of this guy, I think the more they'll like him...

360 Degrees of Obama

This is way cool. And remember now, this isn't a Rock Star appearance or a football game - these are regular folks going to a Political Rally - talk about energized!

It's a Cyclorama Shot

Fatherhood...

Not Obama's fathers day speech (which was good btw) but something actually from waaaaaaay back in 2007 ;-) Just a little podcast, done before he was really a viable candidate, so very much genuine and 'unfiltered'...

White Fright!

This was from a few weeks back just before the PA primary, but I thought it was funny. Stewart (as always) distills it down and asks the 'hard questions' :-) Of course, 'never a truer word spoken in jest' - there are plenty of people who really think this way...

CFR

I've mentioned this once or twice before, about an organization which some think is 'running the world' (or wants to). Frankly, I don't believe it, or at least I don't believe there's a group of folks sitting in a big room plotting to 'take over the world' or anything like that. I don't really think my Mom does, either, but I think she believes that their influence is greater than might be accepted by the general public. Who's right? Well, here's the comment from my Mom, and the link - decide for yourself!

This is the link to a long essay on the CFR and NWO which you mentioned on your blog. It's well worth reading I think and perhaps an explanation of why you think I'm paranoid... which the intro to the essay also mentions as a common reaction when faced with the info...do read the whole essay if you can... it goes into the history and good detail on what it's all about.

...and here's the link

We WIN!

That's it - it's effectively over. Obama wins BIG in North Carolina, and holds it to a 2 point victory for Clinton in Indiana. To understand why this effectively seals the deal for Obama, we need to understand the backdrop.

For the last 6 weeks, Obama has been off message as he's been attacked by Clinton with a series of basically Republican talking points. The most effective of these was the Reverend Wright. This is Obama's pastor, and a long time friend. His Race speech in Philadelphia (which I posted here previously) was an attempt to address that. It was, by any objective measure, a fine speech, and went a long way to putting critics voices to rest. But, then up pops Wright again on a promotional tour, saying more stuff and giving the critics more ammunition (and remember here, the point is not whether what he said was right, in fact it largely was, but whether it could be used by the other side, which it surely could). Obama was justifiably angry, because (he said) he profoundly disagreed with the remarks, but in fact one could also infer that he felt betrayed by someone who would have known the trouble it would cause, and went ahead anyway. So, he gave another speech in which he roundly denounced Wright this time, with no room for conciliation or disagreement on what he meant.

The denouncement did the trick, and for the last 10 days or so this speech, allied with Clinton's push for a 'gas tax holiday' for the summer, which would save the average driver just $30, seems to have allowed Obama to get back on message. People recognized the gas tax holiday for what it was - political pandering, and Obama played on this, pointing out that it was precisely the 'politics as usual' that he was here to change.

On to last night, where poll averages were showing Obama ahead in North Carolina by 5 or 6 points, and Clinton ahead in Indiana by the same amount. Instead, Obama blew the lid off North Carolina, bringing in a 14 point victory, and holding Clinton to a 2 point (or less!) spread in Indiana - hardly convincing for Clinton, who really needed to win convincingly in Indiana and at least beat expectations in North Carolina, to continue her 'this is still a close race' narrative.

Even the myopic Main Stream Media (MSM) saw the writing on the wall, and this morning the expectation is that, although she may continue the race, the contest is (barring a completely unforseen event) effectively over.

Hillary's speech last night was upbeat, of course, but slightly less aggressive than we have seen, and slightly more conciliatory. For his part, Obamas speech was classic oratory, at once both conciliatory to the Democratic base, and also assertively laying out why he is running for President - a wake up call McCain that the game is ON!

May the Force be with Him!

This tickled me. Maaaaaan there's people with WAY too much time on their hands :-) Actually, it's pretty cool, and if you're going to mess around with video and have fun in the age of YouTube, why not hit the 'Dark Side' where it hurts! Enjoy!

Real Conservatives

This guy highlights what I've been saying for a while. By any sane standards, many 'conservative' people are not considered so by todays 'Bizzaroworld' standards...

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/189549.php