Obama In 2008?

During my travels for the past two months, I have been discussing politics in every country.  It is surprising but I found everywhere I go there is an enthusiasm for Barack Obama.  It is with the American traveler as well as the native people.  I noticed it in Costa Rica when I discussed politics with the people in my Habitat for Humanity group.  The younger people were Obama supporters and they had a passion that I haven't seen in politics in my entire life.  As a Clinton supporter, I thought it was cute that they were so passionate for Obama but deep done inside I wished that I had the same level of passion for my candidate.  How was a Senator with three years of experience going to lead the country?

Of course- I surround myself with politically passionate people so having passion for a candidate or party is in my blood.  The passion I see is from people who have not been part of the process.  They are part of this new emergence of people that are interested in policy.  They are more interested in civic life.  They believe they can make a difference.  It is energizing to see this level enthusiasm.  I wasn't around for McGovern but it sounds that this generation has found a candidate that draws their enthusiasm, passion and idealism.  Hopefully, it is not a wasted campaign as it was in 1972.

When we were in Vina del Mar, Chile, we met a family and their seventeen year old daughter interpreted our conversation.  I was surprised with how much passion her mother had for Obama.  Why was this women born and raised in Chile an Obama supporter?  It was because of the hope that America could be the inspiration that it once was.  As the mother said, " America is the financial center of the world but it was the moral center world." In her opinion, the war in Iraq and our issues with torture changed who we were.  She grew up under the rule of the dictator Pinochet, but America in her view was now no different.  We were what we used to despise. 

Last night I met a couple that changed my opinions of this election.  It wasn't their words that changed me but it was their passion.  We need that passion back in America.  As someone who cares about government- as someone who believes in government- we need people to get people back into the movement.  We were taught the biggest lie in the Reagan years and we still perpetuate it- "Government is the enemy."  Why does it have to be that way?  Why did we let it become this way?  Those before me-WHY DID YOU LET THIS HAPPEN?

I don't know if this country is ready for an African American as president.  As a person of color, I don't feel we are but perhaps I don't have the faith of the people that I so love. Maybe the country has changed and I have only seen isolated instances of racism. I don't know.

What I know is that Obama brings hope to the people of my county.  He brings hope to the world.  We elected a guy for the past eight years who hadn't left the country for his first 40 years on the assumption that he would surround himself with good thinkers. I have no doubt that Obama will surround himself with the best thinkers.

I WAS a Clinton supporter.  I believed after 2004 she could get elected.  I did the electoral college math and knew she could win the election.  She could win Ohio-Florida.  I just wanted a Democrat to win.  Our country needed a change.  I still believe she would be a good president.

Last night I changed.  It is hard for a politician to change.  As the former Mayor of East Lansing, I am on the public record supporting Clinton.  I know for some I will be a traitor.  I know for others I will have joined the bandwagon late.  But I have never cared what they thought- I believe in what I believe.

I am now an Obama supporter.  You do not know how hard it is write this.  I have grappled with this my whole trip.  I justified who I supported because she could win but now I believe there is something bigger. He will bring people back to the process. Even if he loses he will make people believe in government again.

I remember where I was when he gave his speech at the Democratic convention in 2004.  I was at the Harrison Roadhouse.  The restaurant was quiet during his speech.  Afterwards, I called my friend Glen Brooks from Chicago.  My first words were, " Is this guy the real deal?"  It should have been my West Wing moment but I am too practical sometimes.

Travel changes people.  It has made me more idealistic.  YES WE CAN---Obama 2008.

Comments

[WEBSPY©®]

Hillary now says vote for me or for Republicans

I think its rediculous to say Obama has free ride from media. I see this every election media comes out with juicy story on eve of election to see if the can affect the election, as theres no time to respond to made up acusations! The clintons winned about media when running aginst Republicans.They do every race cuse it works!!

The guy in court comes out monday even though every one knew well in advance about court date and could of ran it on friday or when Obama talked about it on national televishion.

I notice John MC Cain, and Hillary, hire people to call Obama everything but the N word, then they come out and say with a wink they reject the satements hell they even denounce the person, why hire them in the first place, oh yes of course they still can get the message out and a quick wink a sry all is good. And why does Obama need to denounce his pastor when hes not part of the Obama team. Obama not responcible for another mans deeds any more then the millions and millions of people who supported their person of the cloth right up to the time they were draged away by the police, for another primitive sex scandel of all things!

I dont know Hillary middle names, dont know her pastors name, never see pics in different kinds of dress, dont know her taxes, dont know alot of things about her that Obamas had to defend. Now we have Hillary saying obama talked free trade with Canadians the retoric, when all involved says the retoric part not true, she still comes out and says its true, whos truth full all involved or Hillary? Well then if the retoric is not true what does that make Hillary?

My frustration of Ken Star, vs the Clinton's grew to the point of a real sense of loss for humanity in politics. I just saw the problems we faced, and the inaction, of a stalled Washington, self glorifying of both parties, boy did I wish for a third party! I hared the investigation into the biggest attack on America cost 12 million and was conducted years later. I hear Clinton's BJ and other scandals cost 65 million?

The Scandal and the impeachment was well uncomfortable, and embarrassing to most everyone with a hart. In the bigger picture it was also a waste of money and time that could of been better spent dealing with the real issues of Ben Laden, Iraq, Sarajevo, home grown terrorist.Hillary is at the point of building up Republicans to try and trash Obama. I would of voted for either untill yesterday.

We so need a Obama to turn the page on the 1800s and power hungry say anything do anything, fear, sadness not to unite, but to win. I belive Hillary would rather see Obama get trashed by Her, George Bush,Dick Chaney, John MC Cain, and Bill Clinton, and divide the party then do what's right already and the whole lot of them can move on and get a life and get out of ours.

Now we have John McCain saying forget all the rest of it that's the past, its stabilized the SURGE is working I was right! It took longer and the political thingy still not working but when I bring the troops home it wont be surrender, cause I'm not a democrat! You know what he's right so why not have another SURGE, then things will be real swell. The SURGE, brings back levels to where they were already! I like MC Cain I think he is a noble man better then I!

I once heard a saying I may disagree with what you say, but your right to say it I will defend unto my death.

Benjamin Franklin quote:Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
I just pray for the future as we know the laws being past and ignored by this current administration has our best interest at hart and that is why the constitution need not be followed. What about the administrations 50 years from now I'm sure they wont abuse the laws any more that this one has!

We now are told you can be arrested without warrant, your phone tapped, house searched, and no trial for you, all we have to do is imp-lie you are a terrorist. What happens if my phone was tapped then they find out I'm not a terrorist, do I get a note in the mail, our bad?

I'm a little scared of Black Water becoming an independent police force here. I'm sure they will go after gangs and the people will cheer, then comes the people with bi polar, and well we all seen this move when Grand Pa Bush, backed Hitler.

[Robin]

Ah, Sam... This is where the "politician" in you rises for all to see. You are wrestling with who you were, who you are, and who you will become perhaps? The Sam I know would always have embraced hope over experience. The young man who was moved to tears by Mikey was - himself - a Barack in hiw own right. Maybe the trip is allowing you to peel back the layers a bit? I have been a proud member of Obama-Nation since the day I saw him at the Convention. It is time.

[Vikki]

Hah...the "younger people" in your group. I'm only one year younger, dear sir. :)

I'm glad that the enthusiasm of some of us on that trip may have influenced your decision.

[http://humanity-humanist.blogspot.com/]

I rewrote some didnt know i could paste links night hope you see finished version dark but nessasary to get back to the light.

[http://humanity-humanist.blogspot.com/]

I totaly agree I only read a bit but I feel inspired that is why I wrote my first blog ever. Im new so sry but this is what i wrote

HUMANITY

I once heared a saying I may disagree with what you say, but your right to say it I will defend unto my death.

I beg you to read this till the end peoples lives depend on it. If just one roumor or fact is right we all have a responcibility to learn and ask questions!

Dear Mr and Ms america, I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time.

President Kennedy I recently learnt said be on the look out for secret groups that answer to no one.

One group called the Neo Cons have been very busy as of late, and said the opposite of Kennedy, lets not entertain conspiracy theories, as was requested by President Bush Jr..

Ok lets not, that however does not prevent humanity from asking certain questions, in fact one could argue it is a duty of humanity to seek the light. And I'm sure deep down you feel you owe it to every man women and child who have lost their lives for the greater good as George and Ben have told you!

Here are some rumours I have heard through out my life. Also some questions I've been pondering, maybe you have the answers, I sure would appreciate it.

I said to my father more then once before he passed, don't be worried about the computer and machines taking over, be worried about the machinery and computers being used by face less corporations to take over.

I pondered one day who has had the most influence over my life directly or indirectly seen or unseen. I came up with an interesting answer George Bush Sr..

Ok lets see just before I was born his father I had heard was a banker that funnelled money to Hitler. I don't know I could look into it a bit more but it took me 5 seconds on the net to find news articles from the good ole days that said as much.

Then George Bush Sr. was a war hero, shot down 1st out and only survivor, his two buddies died, but luckily George survived so we can know he wasn't a coward but a hero.

Then you all will have to look into this rumour that the bay of pigs era their was a boat called the Barbra. I'm sure there's a log book some where showing where Sr. was in that era. I'm not sure if Kennedy accepted the blame to cover for a rough element of the lets say CIA who authorized without presidential consent.

Then I think George started to get rich on oil lets say, and got deeper into the republican party.
I think it was around the time poor John, Bobby, Martin, Maryland were killed.
I think it's strange they couldn't kill Castro. I guess he was better guarded than 1/3 of washington insiders like the president of the U.S.A., besides Kennedy, was into human rights and that silly peace thing.

Then what I gather from Sr.'s's book that I read, he got in deeper and was in the thick of things during Water Gate. Once again, 1st out of Washington, he survived and waited things out in China of all places. Then when he got back, he was made head of CIA, he was just head of the republican party I believe. I'm not sure of the order but around that era.

Then this is were I first started to notice Sr., I thought good guy makes sense, but I thought Reagan made more sense, during their debates.
This is just a rumour I heard years later that Regan said he wasn't showing up for a televised event, so George didn't. Aha Regan did, and implied George may be scared is why he's a no show.
That was one of the things witch turned the tide and made Regan president.
The day Regan was almost killed I thought isn't it strange, its almost the anniversary of that debate. It was almost like a message from God or someone else.
Sr. I hear was in texas makeing the hotel where kennedy slept a historical national treasure. Symbolism that would even make Joseph Campbell raise an eye brow. If you ever get a chance look into Joseph Campbells lifes work, very fasinating, makes me a better Humanist the more I read, at least I hope. I belive Jackie Onassis ran his foundation or something to that affect. Check it out http://www.jcf.org/

Ok let's see where were we, or better yet were was Sr.?
I thought when Regan was shot, I don't know much about this vice president. I heard he ran for the senate twice and lost both times, but head of the GOP, CIA, now president, if Regan dies.

A cold chill hit me as I realised here is a man who has never been elected by the people for nothing, and he could be president of the USA.
Who has been creeping around the corridors of power unelected for 30 years. I was so glad Regan pulled through. I could see the toll it took and was sad for him to have to go through the whole Iran contra thing.
However when Sr. was elected as president I was glad I liked the guy he made sense, and I thought, finally, at least now he's elected and not one of these king maker types. And Kuwait was an open and shut case to me.
Being a humanist first and foremost, I felt the shame of war, but understood their to be evil people that needed to be stopped. I became a little dismayed in this era of the media, as presenting it as a xbox game neatly wrapped. When he withdrew the troops I understood the logic of a chaotic situation having an known in office as compared to an unknown, not to mention the human loss. Saddam was once our best friend but he changed so did we. I heard a rumour that Paul Wolfowitz wrote a doctrin stating of pre-emption that George told him to bury as the new world order was nervous with talk like that.

Then came the Clinton years with the internet expanding, the gov being reduced in large part like administrators, glorified principal.
The Scandal and the impeachment was well uncomfortable, and inbarrasing to most everyone with a hart. In the bigger picture it was also a wast of money and time that could of been better spent dealing with the real issues of Ben Laden, Iraq, Sarajevo, home grown terrorist.
My frustration of Ken Star, vs the Clintons grew to the point of a real sense of loss for humanity in politics. I just saw the problems we faced, and the inaction, of a stalled Washington, self glorifieing of both parties, boy did i wish for a third party!
Right around this era I started to worry about corporations like microsoft, the king makers, and unelected corridor power thing. I grew increasingly concerned what if the media corperations, and bussiness in general jumped in bed with politics, were would that leave labour, heck were would that leave humanity?

Over the years I noticed about aids, the Red Cross hepititas, Ethiopia, that I could get info on the net, but not in the media till days weeks and even years later.
For example I was playing chess with a gal on line, and she said 'Oh My God tanks are rolling down the streets.' I asked where are you, she said Chechnia, witch I had never heard of, but then the internet started to be come a buzz.
The next three days or so, I watched CNN, BBC, CBC and so on. Nothing, not a word. I thought do they not have access to the internet? Or due to politics are we told on a need to know basis?

When the Neo Cons flew to texas to give Bush Jr. some instructions. I thought good, A he really does need some, and at least Clintons are gone.
I was smug and thought at least now we can get back to this new world order, that Sr. kept talking about. My sister who's a prof, said to me Gor will get in hands down. I laughed and said looks like Jrs gonna be our next prez to me. She laughed and said 'how do you know' being so educated and all, swipe I never finished high school. I retorted well perhaps were going to electronic voting, can you say paperless? If I get a 20 spot from an ATM I get a recipt! Further more do you know the peeps who build the machines, can also run for office? And perhaps Bro is Governor of Flordia, and perhaps daddy ran the CIA. She said yadda yadda yadda you will see. Well I bet ya for the first time in USA history the vote won't be able to be counted properly as sony play station has more security features then a voteing machine with a two way modem!
A few months later she said to me you may not have finnished school but you do have eyes. I personaly wished I had finished school,so what I had been saying would of scared me to death, instead of makeing me smug thinking I knew most the players!

Well here's where things start to get more complicated. I knew the Neo Cons wanted to inact Wolfowitz doctrain. I thought they may have stolen the U.S election, grabed the Pentagon, the White House, but not the CIA, nah could never happen!
Then I heared a roumor several people signed a new doctrain that stated "we need another new Pearl Harbour, in order to galvinise the american people, Chaney, Wolfowitz and the gang all signed it. Reason to inact marshial law to be able to compete with China and gain the resources in which to contain her.

The day of 911 standing in my livingroom I said outloud between tears it looks like were going to Iraq, for my eyes don't decive me! My brother inlaw said yah right your so far off the mark its not even funny, sad he's a prof too.
I was so sadden for the loss of human life, the scab on humanity of to many angels all at once hitting heaven! I turned off the internet, and the tv, and the world!

This election got the tv, internet, and me back in the world. I thought their has got to be answers, what do I really know? So I dug into the net for weeks and was amazed by what I found.

Here's just some of the rumours I heard, please correct them if there wrong.
The Wolfowitz doctrain was signed Sept 17th 2001.
Well you know where I was on Sept 11 , Jr. he was in a class room, good alibi, I wonder how long that apointment was on the books? And we know George miss spoke when he said he had seen the second plane hit "must of been on the televishion" nope!

Chaney was the head of NORAD that day. I heard later proticall, if a plane deviates more then a 1/4 mile off route, the air force is dispatched. In fact, I heard, it was dispached 64 times that year prior to 911. The day four planes deviated a total of 0 jets were dipatched.
Norad was conducting test of planes being hijacked and flowen into buildings, there for the air force didnt know if it was "real world" or exersise! then way later 2 jets were dispatched.
Don't sound like proticall to me, but I'm not airforce, is Chaney?

Sr. well he was 2 and 1/2 miles from the trade center in a meeting with Bin Ladens older brother. And I heard in fact, five planes were allowed to leave following day carrying the Bin Laden family from the Bush family barbaque.
Of course, this has got to be all wrong, cause people would protest over conflict of intrest.

I heard three steel buildings collapsed due to the two jets, causeing fire, first time in human history.
Then I heard the BBC was brodcasting building number 7 collapsed 20 mins earlier then it had. Heared the lease holder of the WTC Silverstein had said on PBS that he gave the order to "pull it" when was it wired? What I didnt hear was three weeks earlier he placed 7 billion $ollars worth of insurance on it!
Then I read Marvin Bush and his cousin were Ceo of a security firm that was incharge of the security to the air lines, and the WTC, wait a second who is Marvin Bush, and why dont I know him? As it turns out the nanny in his employment, was killed when her own car ran over her in his driveway! Well Ive been searching alot of news corperations I get alot of Britney no Marvin!
Heared Rudy Guliano, new their were a problem with the figher fighters radios in 93 and did nothing acept call in the backhoes when he figured they had recovered most of the gold. He then gave a no bid contract to motorola didnt feild test the radios and they were worse then the ones the fire fighters died with. He cleared it up in washington stateing the fire fighters wanted to die cuse they were heroes, no they wanted to do their jobs but couldnt due to lack of proper equipment thing. At the last divoece his net worth was 7 grand now what five years or so its 70 million. Now hes down in Flordia of all places saying hes the true hero of 911, just ask him!
My cousins trailer caught fire and it took us 6 months to rebuild it due to fire regulations. I hear the WTC was cleaned up in 6 months due to no investagation nessasary. Correct me if I'm wrong, but Jr. and Chaney said not under oath, no recordings, no investigations, that some guy in a cave pulled all this off, did I miss something? Like the laws of phisics were a bowling ball droped from the top of WTC would hit the ground in 10 sec, but not the entire building in 10 sec thats free fall. And there is a log book in a U.S Marine hospital that states Ben Laden was a guest of theirs at this time? In fact 911 commishion dosnt mention building number 7?
Bush said we couldn't imagine planes flying into buildings even though me and my little brother had discussed that exact thing prior to 911, because the Discovery Channel asked that on one of their shows, then I find out the Pentagon studied the same thing, but not the Neo Cons apperantly. I wish they had the same cable as me or read the same Pentogon papers as me, maybe we wouldnt be in this mess. Come to think of it that was NORADS drill that day?

We were told by the administration countless times Iraq dosnt have WMD then next thing was the access of evil and Iraq does.
I liked what another goverment leader said the primeminister to the north said, why not let the inspectors do their jobs? Show me your list, am I on it? Preemption, isn't that like a having a crystal ball, you now are in the bussiness of predicting the future?
Jr said listen to Wolfowitz hes got a doctrain, Rumsfeld who also missed spoke and said that plane "shot down" over Pennsylvania,was very clever and dosnt have to listen to Generals on the ground. Chaney the real king of kings, just keeps saying things couldnt be better, and kick Powell to the curb.

Cherry picked the evidence, said Iraq responcible 911, working on WMD, mushroom cloud, then said, invade and we will be greeted as liberators, then said we have enough soilders and they don't need to be better equipped, then said mission accomplished, then said reshem change, Sadam bad bad guy. Then said mistake bad bad CIA. He went to war on bad intell. If only he hadnt told the inspectors and the world to take a hike my way or nothing. I veiw the bad CIA advice as if one Dr says to another Dr cut there and the pacient dies the doctor would be charged with malpractice. George said I followed bad advice and accidently killed 3000 soliders, wounded thousands more, killed 100 thousand people not my fault not my bad.

Now we have John Mcain saying forget all the rest of it, its stabalised the SURGE is working I was right! You know what their right so why not Have another SURGE, then things will be real swell. The SURGE, brings back levels to where they were already!
We now are told you can be arrested without warrent, your phone tapped, house searched, and no trial for you, all we have to do is implie you are a terrorist. I'm a little scared of Black Water becomeing an independant police force here. Im sure they will go after gangs and the people will cheer, then comes the people with bi polar, we all seen this move when Grand Paw backed Hitler. Guess katrina lack of responce to be expected.

Were told history will be the judge cuse me and you to bias. Then George said just trust us and do not question less you be unpatirotic, and subscribe to conspiracy theory!

I pondered one day how many humans would be alive to day if Sr. and Jr had never been? I think Ben and George are a scab on humanity. There are how many terrorist world wide, 10 thousand 50 thousand, 5 billion should have their rights taken and the dawn of a dark new day procide lest we dont pay attention.

I showed this letter to a friend who said you make me sick people died that day, and George is a Hero. I said I am a humanist I belive in one country called earth and one race called human. For every Ben and George I can show you a billion good people else we wouldnt of made it out of the caves.

[Allison]

I have had very similar feelings over the past few weeks. I have decided not to let his inexperience dictate whether or not he will be a good president. We need an inspirational leader, international thinker and good collaborator - which I think Obama is. He's smart enough to hire good people who will actually be running the country anyway.

I'm struggling to let go of my Hillary hope, but it's fading...

[Jon Pratt]

Well said Sam! Great to follow your travels!

Tuesday will be a defining moment -- what do you think Obama has to do to win in the general election?