The First Couple

I just had to post what I think is the sweetest photo of Barack and Michelle Obama I've seen yet. This was taken in a freight elevator as they were being escorted from one inaugural ball to another.



Photo borrowed from MSNBC.com.

And this came in an email forwarded to me from my Dad. I don't know who the original author is.

Dear World:

We, the United States of America, your top-quality supplier of the ideals of liberty and democracy, would like to apologize for our 2001-2008 interruption in service. The technical fault that led to this eight-year service outage has been located, and the software responsible was replaced November 4. Early tests of the newly installed program indicate that we are now operating correctly, and we expect it to be fully functional on January 20. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by the outage. We look forward to resuming full service and hope to improve in years to come. We thank you for your patience and understanding,

Sincerely,

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

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Witnessing history: January 20, 2009

As I write this, there are less than 24 hours left until Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States. I can't even begin to express what this feels like.

Just thinking of the part where Bush finally leaves Washington causes my heart to soar. I have this image of the Pigpen character in Charles Shultz's Peanuts - he leaves a wake of dirt wherever he goes. Only in W's case, it's death and destruction left in his wake and it will take more than a broom and a brush to clean up the mess he's made. So much of it is irreparable - lives lost unnecessarily - and so many rights have been trampled, so much environmental and economic damage done that some of it will take many lifetimes to heal.

But I don't want to dwell on the negative today; I've been doing that for 8 years. I want to celebrate this awesome occasion!

I don't remember being excited about an inauguration before - well, the truth of it is, I've never been excited about a President before. And I can just feel the excitement, the energy around me building. I believe the US has been on a downward spiral for a long time and the only thing to save us from complete collapse requires something to shake it up, to change the course. I'm not about to put all of the burden on Barack Obama, for no one person can achieve that kind of goal, it's a setup for failure. But the essence of what his election represents is what gives me hope - that enough people in this country have seen that the path we've been on is unsustainable and we need to radically change the way we live and work and eat and treat each other. Obama is not only a symbol of this change, but has the qualities needed to inspire others to do the work that needs to be done.

I believe that Obama and his administration have no grand ulterior motives as Bush/Cheney did, that when he swears tomorrow to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution they will not be empty words, there will be no unspoken subtext. I have to believe this.

And - how cool is it to see this African American family move into the White House? this mansion that symbolizes the best and the worst of this country. I remember hearing someone right after the election say they wish they could be witness to the arrival of the Obamas, greeting the mostly Black house staff - what pride on both sides there will be.

I have to say it. I'm worried for Barack Obama. I'm scared that some wacko or wackos will do their best to take him out. I don't think our nation could survive a tragedy like that. I don't want to think about it, but in these days when people gun down classrooms of students, anything is possible. So that's where most of my prayers are directed; I don't feel a need to pray that Obama will do the right thing most of the time. But I do pray for his health and safety.

So, this time tomorrow, the US will have a new President, most of the world will celebrate and we can begin to move forward at last! Free at last! Free at last!

What are your hopes, dreams and fears about the new administration?

One more thing - a bumpersticker spotted:
2009: The End of an Error.

The wonderful photo above taken by Doug Mills, NYT .
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Bill Moyers on Obama

I just had to share this even though it's a few weeks old. The joyful celebrations have died down, replaced by the holiday goings on and the mundane tasks of daily life. Although --there is more hope in the air these days, even with a rapidly declining economy. I wore my Obama button on the train this weekend and it sparked a few fun conversations about hope. And on our way home from the station, our taxi driver (who was listening to NPR - we knew it was a good sign!) told us about his teenage children who were so involved in the election and debated politics with their cousins over Thanksgiving dinner. It made me smile.

So here's Bill Moyers, a clear voice of reason, discussing how far we've come.




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Post election: what now? Comic relief!

Obama Win Causes Obsessive Supporters To Realize How Empty Their Lives Are
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Wordless Wednesday 11-05-08 YES WE DID!!!!!

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My American Prayer

A little pre-election inspiration. Beautifulness.

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Yes We Carve

Yes We Carve, Barack O'Lantern Read More!

Countdown to retirement: 38 days

38 Million View Obama’s Speech; Highest-Rated Convention In History

I've mostly kept politics off this blog (except a sidebar button or rant here and there). But I have to say it. This country is in big trouble and has been going in the wrong direction for 8 years. The Bush administration has done so much damage to our rights and our responsibilities as global citizens, not to mention the environment and the economy. And McPain is not the kind of "change" we need (read: NO change).

I'm not fond of the U.S. electoral system; I think it's badly broken and needs a complete overhaul. But it's what we have to work with right now, and our best hope is to get Obama - Biden elected, to get someone with vision and intelligence in the White House, someone who will listen and negotiate. We do not need more of the same war mongering (remember McCain joking about "Bomb Bomb Bomb Iran?"), denial about environmental and energy crises; we don't need another insane resident in the White House! And McCain's running mate is so grossly unqualified to be in a position of such power, I can't even grasp the concept.

One of my favorite quotes this last year during the initial campaign was from a Larry King interview with Jon Stewart:

Larry King: Are Americans ready for a woman or a black president?
Jon Stewart: This is such a non-question. Did anyone ask us in 2000 if Americans were ready for a moron?

I do think Bush is incompetent which makes him dangerous; I also think many members of his administration have had some truly evil intentions and they were able to get away with so much because of Bush's incompetence. The debacle of the invasion and occupation of Iraq, one of the worst foreign policy mistakes in US history; torture (yes we DO torture and IT MUST STOP); illegal rendition, illegal wiretapping, Katrina, near economic collapse -- need I continue? What is most stunning to me is how they have managed to get away with all of this with so little outcry. A compliant media is partially responsible, but so are all of us.

I thought the 2004 election was the most pivotal in our history, and as devastating as that outcome has been to this country (and the rest of the world), this one has the potential, with another Bush-type administration, to do irreparable damage. I do not think Obama has all the solutions. I do think he brings a new story and some hope to the country, which we desperately need.

Now, since this is in part a book blog, here's a great way to buy books and support Obama!
Books 4 Barack.





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