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.

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.

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.

1. Barack Obama in St. Paul, MN

2. Obama Clinches Democratic Nomination

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!

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!

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!

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

I'd die!

I hate cold!

Stay warm.

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