Obama Celebrations Nov 4 Washington DC

On November 4, 2008, US Senator Barack Obama was elected 44th President of the United States of America. I watched the returns with some loud Washingtonians at Busboys and Poets. After midnight we emerged onto a ruckus scene on 16th and U Street (near the African American Civil War Memorial and the Historic Shaw district) for a wild party into the early morning. Barack Obama won 93% of the vote in the District of Columbia.

There was gridlock on the streets, but no one was trying to go anywhere. Just honking loudly...



... and having a celebration.



Some people gathered to clang their gongs ....



... and beat their drums.



Then we started a 1.5 mile journey down 16th street to the White House ...



... to bid adieu to President George W. Bush.

Samantha Power

I just watched this great interview with Barack Obama's (former) foreign policy adviser, Samantha Power. In the first part of the interview she talks about Obama's ideas for a new approach to foreign policy (which she helped to foster). In the second part of the interview she talks about Sergio de Mello, a top UN diplomat on human rights who was killed in Iraq in 2003. It is a great interview because it covers many areas in international relations, and also focuses on the role of the UN.

How to get out of Iraq

Some people wonder how the US can extricate itself from Iraq without generating chaos. Barack Obama's foreign policy advisor (Samantha Power) discusses how the Obama camp have been thinking about this for months and have realistic expectations about what they can accomplish. They also have plans to ensure the Iraqi people are taken care of:

Rebutting the naysayers

Obama can be very light-hearted, even when he's defending himself. The audience members are all smiles in this video, even as Obama works his way through some of the most scurrilous charges against him:

Obama on Iraq, Gonzales etc.

Here's a good interview by Sen. Barack Obama. We need political, not primarily military solutions in Iraq. I think part of the reason for Gen. Petraeus' (new US commander) recent success in Iraq is his focus on some of the political issues (getting Prime Minister Maliki to meet with Sunnis, for example). Why do we need a culturally sensitive General to be the one coming up with the political solutions? Where are the diplomats and beurocrats?

Obama's AIPAC speech

Palestinian activist, Ali Abunimah gives a fascinating analysis of Barack Obama's recent speech to the America Israel PAC -- fascinating because he has observed Obama for about 10 years in Chicago politics. He talks about Obama's history interacting with Arab American constituents and his ultimate move to support Israel. I think Obama needs to address and explain this history, lest he look like an opportunist playing the political game like everyone else.

Abunimah essay is: "How Barack Obama learned to love Israel".

UPDATE: Apparently Obama's position is a little more nuanced than his earlier speech might indicate. M.J. Rosenberg offers up some commentary.

UPDATE 2: An article in The Jewish Week provides a more extensive background than Abunimah's article. It includes interviews with some of Obama's neighbors and Professor Rashid Khalidi, who hosted a fund raiser for Obama back in the state senate days. (This is going to be a great election season!)

Obama on Faith and Politics

This has been around for a while. A great speech on Faith and Politics last year here in DC.

Obama Interview in 2002

I think this is going to start circulating around the web. Here is an interview in 2002 (before the Iraq war) where Senate Candidate Barack Obama outlines his opposition to preemptive war. Another interesting thing is that he mentions the possibility of a Sunni-Shia conflict.

Obama in San Fransisco

Film maker zennie62 offers a little expose about Senator Barack Obama's visit at a Senator Barbara Boxer campaign event on Monday. Boxer spoke with her usual motherly passion: "When I look at him... I see in him what has worked right with America." But what was all that "Amen" and "Hallelujah" in the background about?!

Market Driven

Why is Sen. Barack Obama such a hot commodity right now? Conservatives like to say "Let the market decide". I suggest that Obamamania is a manifestation of this principle. The media isn't gushing over him (He's a rockstar) because of a "liberal bias". Its because he sells well (ratings, clips on YouTube). And maybe he can sell the US to an increasingly skeptical world.

For his supporters, it is an added bonus that he also has a good progressive record, a bipartisan streak, good leadership skills, good looks, good ideas, and all the other things people want in a president.

Obama's Announcement