Jack & Jill Politics

For me it was Iowa and the opening line of his victory speech: "You know, they said this day would never come." Classic Obama. Talking about race without uttering a word about it. Of course literally the speech was about change, about this election and this moment in history. But the subtext was unmistakable. Who was "they"? And what exactly did "they" think would never occur? It was at this moment the reality of the First Black President appeared to dawn on everyone, especially African-American’s who were, at least from my vantage point, the most gobsmacked of them all.

Prior to Iowa, Obama was a respectable candidate to be sure, and while some political junkies were reading the tea leaves and predicting a seismic shift in the electorate, the conventional wisdom was still that of Clinton inevitability, that America wasn't ready for this, and (hilariously in retrospect) that Obama was a vaguely Uncle Tommish character who won’t be able to rally his own natural base. Then BOOM---seemingly out of nowhere---the breakthrough occurred. National polls shifted dramatically and Obama was suddenly the favorite, a position he never really gave up for any extended period of time.

But back to the speech. It was here I noticed for the first time the subtle MLK cadence in his voice; an affectation to be sure, of a man who chose his own culture, who chose to bear the weight of history as much as it was imposed on him. I noticed his habit of harking back, decontextualizing then reapplying, the language, spirit, and principles of the civil rights movement to our current crises, as if to bring all Americans into the movement. It was the perfect touch for the great unifier, the so-called post-racial candidate. He transcended race without ignoring it.

I knew then I was looking at the next POTUS. I think I heard Cory Booker later say something to the effect that its not so much that he's out leader, but that he's taught us how to lead. That sounds about right. He didn't end racism; he just showed us how to defeat it. The first step to winning is believing you can win. And it appears a whole swath of people, and not just Americans mind you, now believe they can. That's a fundamental change, probably even bigger than any changes in policy Obama will make. We are the ones we have been waiting for...indeed.

The pride he showed to me personally, when he said "I can neither disown Jeremiah Wright, the black community or my white grandmother". Point being, he still cannot disown any of the three regardless of what he says. His character is real and all three made him the President that he will become.

rikyrah: "The night that he WON" the DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY NOMINATION!" Yaaaaa!! :>) :>)

1. Barack Obama in St. Paul, MN

2. Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination

Annnnnnnd, THIS ONE 2: :>) :>) 'cause I love the SWAGGA in his walk!! :>) :>)


3. Barack Speaks To HQ Staff & Volunteers

As I was thinking about this topic, I came to the conclusion that ALL OF THEM were his "best moments" even if they weren't the most spirited. :>) :>)

YES HE CAN! YES HE DID!


Mr. President-Elect BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA!! :>) :>) :>) Whooo! Hooo!

One of my favorite Obama moments was when The Kennedys endorsed him wholeheartedly, without hesitation. That moment was fantastic because it was like one of those business "merger" moments we always hear about, that takes place behind closed doors, when businessmen and women shake hands to close a deal. The only difference is this was a political "merger" of the most terrific kind. To see Ted Kennedy, Caroline Kennedy, and others from the Kennedy clan stand and talk about and hold hands with this African American man was a very JFK/RFK/MLK-esque moment! It was like all that Dr. King and others had fought for during the Civil Rights movement had all come to a crossroads at that very moment on that stage. Plus, it was such a slap in the face to the McCain camp. It was pre-Sarah Palin, before all of the ooohs and aaahhh over her dumb a*s began. Those were the good old days. lol

My other favorite moment was when General Colin Powell announced his endorsement of Barack Obama. Yet another slap in the face to the Republican Party to find out that one of the few viable Black Republicans they thought was down with their camp for the long haul, shifted gears and berated his Party for the lowdown tactics they tried to use to discredit Obama. Colin Powell laid down the law about their behavior and did it so eloquently, and the words he used to describe the vision he had behind supporting Obama were fantastic. That moment caused me, as well as I'm sure many others, to develop a new found respect for Powell.

And of course, two of my other more personal moments are when I got the chance to see President-Elect Obama speak at The University of Maryland and attending the JayZ Concert in Cleveland. I stood in line with a friend at 7am in February 2008 and the temperature was very much like it is in most of the Northeast today, frigid. The doors didn't open until about 10am at the UMD Comcast Center. Just to be in line, to see the long lines, to see the crowd before, during, and after the event was one of the most phenomenal experiences ever. People had come from all of the surrounding colleges and universities, I think we let this guy from Howard get in line with us (because we were in the front), and others had travelled from VA and PA.

My other personal moment was at the JayZ Rally For Obama Concert in Cleveland, Ohio at the Quicken Loans Arena (the home of the Cavs and Lebron). That concert was fantastic and everyone was so peaceful, NO DRAMA! The other reason the concert was so great is that JayZ is a genius. To take a hip hop venue and combine it with the local community and national politics the way he did, add Lebron as an MC, combine that with the fact that it was FREE, and JayZ put it down like we had paid a million bucks to see him, he cut no corners in his performance! Pure Genius! More events like that are so necessary in our communities! We need them to capture the attention of the youth so that they become encouraged to get involved in their local, state, and national politics.

That concludes my memories of Barack Obama on the campaign trail! I can't wait until he and his family create more for us to share in over the next 4 years!

My fav Obama Moments

1. Race Relations speech in Philadelphia- March 2008

2. Michelle's appearance on the "View" - All dem ladies going out and buying that dress from White House/Black Market

3. DNC night- Sasha's- "Hi Daddy!"

4. First Bump in St. Paul Minnesota- June 2008- I was there!

5. Election Night November 4, 2008

There are so many fave moments, I couldn't possibly list them but here's the latest moment: Barack on vacation in Hawaii, playing golf with buddy/adviser Eugene Kang on the Winter Solstice, Sunday, 21 Dec 08.

http://community.livejournal.com/obama_daily/16...

And here, apropos of nuttin', is kind of a nice gift thing:
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/1420

And another:
http://www.buzzflash.com/store/items/1418

Thanks for those wonderful pics. Obama is just a regular guy. I see he still has a cell phone on him. lol

He tickles me bristling at the constraints on his ability to just chill, go for a walk or gab with a friend nowadays. Life is lonely at the top. I read where he asks his friends why they did not callanymore...and they replied...'you are the President, you busy now'...I can imagine if one of my buddies became President, I would feel the exact same way...not knowing when you could reach them...and not wanting to encounter what could be endless obstacles to reach them or not hearing back from them.

I hope Obama doesn't swing with too much torque...can't have him messing up his back and knees before he gets in office. Those long lanky folks have vulnerablitlity to physical actions of that sort...just look at Tiger and Bird had back problems too!

Michelle literally having his back on stage after his unexpected (although I called it that she would when after the fake tears) loss in New Hampshire.

That is one of my favorite pics of Michelle's come from behind kiss! So much love!

This artic blast in DC is really giving me brain freeze. Please forgive the typos!

Hey, whatchu, talkin bout...I am up here with -22 degreess chill factor weather, with snow that is up to my ankles and drinking hot toadies as I wait for the balmy high today of 8 degrees!!

Are you in Detroit, Chicago or Milwaukee? I live in Minneapolis and it's super cold here.

BTW, I was privileged to be on the floor in front of the podium of the Excel Center on June 3rd when Obama announced that he would be the Democratic party's presumptive nominee. I waited nearly four hours in line to get that spot.

Good Lord! (shivering from the thought)

Yes, our sympathy goes out to you NMP. We have a warm and relaxing -25 degrees with the wind chill factor this morning, and a high expected around 5or 10 degrees! LOL! Your're forgivein :-)

OMG!

I'd die!

I hate cold!

Stay warm.

Girl, I got a hot Jamaican Husband, a real mink coat, fireplace.....Need I go on? LOL!!!!

;) There you go! Heeheehee

The pics of Obama on the beach with Malia and Sascha. Just wonderful, poignant moments. There is joy and sadness as you look at them- you can see it all in Barack's face. His daughters, his sacrifice...is it worth it?...those pictures speak louder than any words ever can.

Top Five-

1. Speech on Race Relations in Philly - This will be a speech our grandchildren read about...one that spoke to our better angels and brought our lesser angels out of the shadows.

2. Obama in Germany - After years of seeing our politicians ridiculed by the international community, seeing Obama embraced was a sight to behold. Plus, I have family ties still in Germany, so it was exciting to have Obama touch part of my family's history.

3. Post-primary speech in New Hampshire - Yes. We. Can.

4. Obama campaigns with Oprah in IA and SC - I'd always believed that Obama was capable of winning, but these events gave me an unusual amount of certainty that he *would* win.

5. Obama wins the NC primary - The final nail in the Clinton coffin was delivered by my homestate.

O, yes...my 3 all time favorite Obama speeches are 2004 DNC, concession speech in NewHampshire, and JeffersonJackson dinner sppech...those are the most inspiring. His race speech will be historic but I did not find it inspirational, but then it was not directed at POC.

JeffersonJackson speech where Pelosi introduced him as the NEXT President of the USA..and Obama entered with the BULLS anthem and sports guy...it was AWESOME!! I was jumping up and down in my home, just giddy all over...cause Pelosi sounded ECSTATIC when she said it and I knew..in my bones..this is coming TRUE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc

The fist bump at Excell...I was there 4 rows from the floor, could have stood at his feet if I wanted to.

I loved the 'Brush Your Shoulders off moment, it was a delight!

When he said in Philly, after they let everyone take their potshots at him, that he felt like he was in a Rocky movie, but the funny thing was he was Rocky.

When he called HRC...BUSH/CHENEY LITE!!..o that elbow was good and I knew it was ON!!

LAST LAUGH and the ultimate 'bitchslap HRC' moment was when he told her 'I am looking forward to you advising me too, Hillary, after she rudely interrupted with her snide 'I want to hear this' and commence with her cackling laugh as he was attempting to respond to the question. hahahaha, got her good AND had the last laugh.

Fired UP ready TO GO!!....Edith Childs story
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHfbKTiUH8U

When Ordinary People come together Extraordinary things Happen speech in Manning SC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJDNzYp0Ecw

That picture reminds me of a point during the primaries, I think O was in SC, and it was a town hall...O called on a young brother who said he was a father, a college student, and his child was with him, or something like that, and O said, "I have to answer this one, any man who takes care of his child I answer his question..." or something to that effect. For some reason that visual has stuck with me for over a year now.

I love that picture. It was taken in my hometown.

I couldn't agree with you more!

1. "A More Perfect Union" speech on race relations in March
2. "...I'll have to think about that." Michelle Obama's response on whether she'd support Hillary Clinton as the party nominee.
3. Obama fist bump.
4. Barack Obama tearing up at a November 3 rally in Jacksonville, FL as he remembers his grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, who passed earlier in the day.
5. South Carolina primary debates when Barack Obama got "negroish" and slammed Hillary Clinton for not being as connected to the community as he was a la the "I was working in the community, while you were sitting on the corporate board at Wal-Mart" comment.
6. Victory Speech on November 4.
7. Michelle Obama's speech at the DNC convention.
8."Yes We Can" speech given immediately following his defeat in the New Hampshire primaries.
9. Obama calling McCain's bluff and announcing that he will move forward with the debates amid the Wall Street meltdown.
10. Aerial photographs and video of people waiting hours in line to cast their ballot.

Wait a minute... Here's another!

Before he wrapped up the nomination....he had a back & forth with John McCain:

I Got News for John McCain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2pXElHV6FA&feat...

Heeheehee

1.His overseas trip was a highlight. Seeing American flags waved in Germany was refreshing. I began to become even more hopeful for his candidacy at the point.

2. The way he kept a smile on his face and remained cool, while McCain lost his in the debates.

3. The fist bump.

4. Of course election night.

5. And when he sternly told his haters and detractors "ENOUGH!" in his acceptance speech in Denver.

1. Fist bump
2. Dirt off my shoulder
3. Hi Daddy


I loved them!

I had forgotten about "Dirt off my shoulder" LOL!

His speech on race in March and victory in November.

You read my mind Ruthdfw!!