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.

The Folly of Attacking Iran

I once heard N.T. Wright say that every generation has a story, a context that defines our present circumstances. The problem is that many of us do not know our story, because we do not know the history that led to our existence. Worse, we do not know the stories of those around us, yet we seek to judge them.

This video, by some academics trying to head off war with Iran, reveals some parts of that story that need to be part of the current political discourse.

(hat tip pk)



Robert Naiman wonders how American policy would be different if everyone knew this history, and points out that Barack Obama supports real diplomacy (no preconditions) with Iran.

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:

Breaking news!

CIA Realizes It's Been Using Black Highlighters All These Years

LANGLEY, VA-The most crucial passages of U.S. intelligence have been emphasized with indelible black highlighters.

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:

Majora Carter: Greening the ghetto

I have not really thought about the issue of environmental justice, until Majora Carter gave this emotional speech at TED. Her argument is that many local policies (in New York city) have hurt the environment for the poor and minorities. E.g. a black person is more likely to live close to a power plant etc.

50 years ago...

50 years ago, the US supreme court issued its first ever "pro-gay" decision, ruling that a gay magazine could send publications to its subscribers using the US Mail. It was basically a first amendment case -- Box Turtle Bulletin has an enlightening overview of the history behind this case.

How to start a story

The journalist who wrote this was probably being very serious. But the circumstances of the case make it hard to start this story in a way that conveys anything but incredulity. From ABC News:

A Washington, D.C. law judge broke down in tears and had to take a break from his testimony because he became too emotional while questioning himself about his experience with a missing pair of pants.

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?

Maher's Rules

This is a great edition of New Rules.

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!)

Dobson goes after Cizik

If you have never heard of Rev. Richard Cizik, Vice President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), you should look him up. At a time when many Evangelicals leaders were marching in lock step with the Republican party on issues of global warming and the Iraq war, it was refreshing to hear him speak for the rest of us. Cizik argues that stewardship of the earth is an important mandate for Christians. Some great Cizik interviews are at NPR's speaking of faith and fresh air programs.

Now James Dobson, Jerry Falwell and others are tired of hearing such a prominent figure in the NAE speak out against global warming. Christianity Today reports: they want him gone. They don't want him being the voice for Evangelicals. I guess they are worried the world will start to think Evangelicals are tree huggers. Here is a comment from a reader of the CT article:

It is a little hypocritical for Dobson and others to raise the alarm that Cizik's views might be construed as the views of all evangelicals. How often have Dobson and Falwell positioned themselves as the spokepersons for evangelical Christians? ... As an evangelical Christian opposed to Bush and concerned about global warming, I'm glad to *finally* hear the voice of someone with whom I can identify!

Well said!

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.

Rethinking Ralph Nader

Robert Kuttner gives a positive review of the documentary An Unreasonable Man about Ralph Nader. He points out that long before Nader was blasted by liberals as an ego-centric presidential candidate who put Bush in the White House, he was an important advocate for consumer rights -- and the documentary does a balanced job of communicating this... makes me want to watch it. Democracy Now interviews Ralph Nader about the movie here.

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