Only for Barack would I have dragged my ass out of bed at 5AM so I could be on line already when the polls opened at 7AM. Lucky for me, I don't live in a Battleground State, so the process was pretty smooth and fast.
During the short time I waited, though, I noticed that everyone seemed... happy(!) And full of friendly good-will towards their neighbors. It was really, really nice... you know? We all joked around, and laughed as we wondered if Bush Jr. would be allowed out of the bunker once the election's over. And the poll-worker got a good laugh out of how hard I was punching the pen into my ballot--to which I replied, "I have exactly two words for you: hanging chads. No way are my chads going to hang..."
Then I walked to Starbucks and got my reward: a free tall cup of coffee (just tell them you voted, and you can get one too). As I walked home, I thought about this: how lucky we would be to have a President who is, in the eyes of the world, like a JFK-meets-Mohammed Ali-meets-The Beatles. Seriously, he's that much of a global rock-star already. You've even got Chavez clamoring to get Obama's ear, saying "I want to get closer to the black man" (um, Hugo... you may want to stop incessantly referring to Obama as "the black man"--you dum-dum). Only in the United States, Jordan, and Pakistan do McCain's popularity numbers even begin to approach Obama's. And as we all know, there's great power in popularity.
Look, I generally find celebrity worship to be rather... distasteful, to put it mildly. But hey, I'm more than happy to let my President work his global celebrity status, if it helps him help us and our planet earth. America, we are on the verge of having as our President the world's most "money" Front-Man!! Just imagine... all the people sharing all the world--yes, John Lennon's song is playing in my head right now. What can I say, I'm a hippie-dippie at heart, and a hope(less/full) dreamer...
Go 'Bama!
Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obama. Show all posts
04 November 2008
01 November 2008
"The Second City" Rising...
I just read a piece called Who You Calling The Second City?, written by Scott Turow (another ex-Lawyer who ultimately chose writing over the law). It confirms what my gut has already been sensing lately about Chicago, my old hometown: that it may be ready, finally, to seize the mantle of The First City.
Like a lot of ex-pats from that town, I fled to the coasts (first NYC and then L.A.), favoring the media capitals over the heart of the "real" America. I, too, bought into the notion that Chicago was somehow less, in every way that mattered. Even though I've never forgotten that SNL was birthed from Second City, the longest-running comedy and improvisational-theater troupe, which is based in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. In fact, since its debut in 1959, Second City has consistently been the breeding ground for many of the best comedians, actors, directors, and others in Show Biz--where do you think SNL got the likes of John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner from? John Candy and Eugene Levy are (were) also Second City Alums.
See, I've long had this theory: that our country is in many ways reliving the Seventies--a highly unpopular War, the oil crisis, a disgraced President, and a time when the NBA Finals were dominated by the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Here's some history, straight from Second City's website, that seems to back up my theory:
"The Seventies: Brother Disco ruled. Side burns grew. President Nixon denied involvement in a scandal, and there was turmoil in the Middle East. The Seventies were a time of great change at The Second City. Long hair and blue jeans appeared on stage at the theater for the first time, adopted by a group of actors self-titled "The Next Generation". This group included new voices such as Harold Ramis and John Belushi. By the mid-Seventies The Second City's reputation soared with the debut of a new television show that featured several SC alums. That show was Saturday Night Live and things have never been quite the same."
No wonder, then, that this has been the season when SNL really got its mojo back. (Palin's a pickle... but wow, is she ever a wealth of comic riches, or what.) There's a cultural war being staged in this country--or at least a time when this nation has reached, or is nearing, the point of critical mass. Call it a cultural tipping point, if you will. And in such times, pay special attention to the Artists, comic and otherwise, and what those voices have to say.
In the political arena, the Obama candidacy just may prove to be the impetus for Chicago's rise. As Turow points out in his piece:
"The president’s home city and state traditionally prosper from added attention and influence, as well as the influx of visitors inspired by curiosity about our nation’s leader. More important, Barack has already signaled that Chicago will also be America’s political center. In June, the candidate-designate merged the Democratic National Committee into his own campaign apparatus and officially moved the DNC to Chicago. The decision produced not only a more efficient and less rivalrous organization, but it also, in some eyes, deepened the political insight. Roland Martin, the esteemed radio host and CNN political commentator, credits Obama’s decision to move the Democratic National Committee to Chicago as one of the key factors in keeping his campaign in touch with the “real” America, by removing campaign officials from the barrage of conventional wisdom absorbed in the media capitals and the beltway. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As president, Obama’s political apparatus is virtually certain to stay here."
An Obama presidency may also be that extra edge which convinces the International Olympic Committee to host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago--Tokyo, Rio and Madrid are the three others on the short-list. And as you may have read in one of my earlier posts, Obama will be at Grant Park (named after Ulysses S. Grant) in Chicago on Election Night, where projections say he'll be joined by as many as 1 million of his supporters. Fittingly, Illinois was also the home state of Abraham Lincoln (a Republican, I might add). Old Abe and General Grant and most everyone, really--I think we'd all love to see the 21st Century version of a Norman Rockwell painting. And if (IF) Obama wins, that picture may very well be painted against the backdrop of Grant Park in Chicago.
Currently, we are all living in a 51 vs 49 percent nation--and it hasn't worked. The main selling point for an Obama presidency, imho, is that it offers the promise of a 62 to 38 percent working-majority (I hope, I hope). We all need to meet in the middle. And where better to meet than in the Capital of the Middle: Chicago, Illinois.
Historically, Chicago has had such a chip on its shoulder... and excels at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (I am very much a product of my hometown, it seems. Sigh). But as Turow puts it: "[E]ven the most hard-bitten Chicagoans have to see very good times on the horizon."
Like a lot of ex-pats from that town, I fled to the coasts (first NYC and then L.A.), favoring the media capitals over the heart of the "real" America. I, too, bought into the notion that Chicago was somehow less, in every way that mattered. Even though I've never forgotten that SNL was birthed from Second City, the longest-running comedy and improvisational-theater troupe, which is based in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood. In fact, since its debut in 1959, Second City has consistently been the breeding ground for many of the best comedians, actors, directors, and others in Show Biz--where do you think SNL got the likes of John Belushi, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner from? John Candy and Eugene Levy are (were) also Second City Alums.
See, I've long had this theory: that our country is in many ways reliving the Seventies--a highly unpopular War, the oil crisis, a disgraced President, and a time when the NBA Finals were dominated by the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Here's some history, straight from Second City's website, that seems to back up my theory:
"The Seventies: Brother Disco ruled. Side burns grew. President Nixon denied involvement in a scandal, and there was turmoil in the Middle East. The Seventies were a time of great change at The Second City. Long hair and blue jeans appeared on stage at the theater for the first time, adopted by a group of actors self-titled "The Next Generation". This group included new voices such as Harold Ramis and John Belushi. By the mid-Seventies The Second City's reputation soared with the debut of a new television show that featured several SC alums. That show was Saturday Night Live and things have never been quite the same."
No wonder, then, that this has been the season when SNL really got its mojo back. (Palin's a pickle... but wow, is she ever a wealth of comic riches, or what.) There's a cultural war being staged in this country--or at least a time when this nation has reached, or is nearing, the point of critical mass. Call it a cultural tipping point, if you will. And in such times, pay special attention to the Artists, comic and otherwise, and what those voices have to say.
In the political arena, the Obama candidacy just may prove to be the impetus for Chicago's rise. As Turow points out in his piece:
"The president’s home city and state traditionally prosper from added attention and influence, as well as the influx of visitors inspired by curiosity about our nation’s leader. More important, Barack has already signaled that Chicago will also be America’s political center. In June, the candidate-designate merged the Democratic National Committee into his own campaign apparatus and officially moved the DNC to Chicago. The decision produced not only a more efficient and less rivalrous organization, but it also, in some eyes, deepened the political insight. Roland Martin, the esteemed radio host and CNN political commentator, credits Obama’s decision to move the Democratic National Committee to Chicago as one of the key factors in keeping his campaign in touch with the “real” America, by removing campaign officials from the barrage of conventional wisdom absorbed in the media capitals and the beltway. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. As president, Obama’s political apparatus is virtually certain to stay here."
An Obama presidency may also be that extra edge which convinces the International Olympic Committee to host the 2016 Summer Olympics in Chicago--Tokyo, Rio and Madrid are the three others on the short-list. And as you may have read in one of my earlier posts, Obama will be at Grant Park (named after Ulysses S. Grant) in Chicago on Election Night, where projections say he'll be joined by as many as 1 million of his supporters. Fittingly, Illinois was also the home state of Abraham Lincoln (a Republican, I might add). Old Abe and General Grant and most everyone, really--I think we'd all love to see the 21st Century version of a Norman Rockwell painting. And if (IF) Obama wins, that picture may very well be painted against the backdrop of Grant Park in Chicago.
Currently, we are all living in a 51 vs 49 percent nation--and it hasn't worked. The main selling point for an Obama presidency, imho, is that it offers the promise of a 62 to 38 percent working-majority (I hope, I hope). We all need to meet in the middle. And where better to meet than in the Capital of the Middle: Chicago, Illinois.
Historically, Chicago has had such a chip on its shoulder... and excels at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory (I am very much a product of my hometown, it seems. Sigh). But as Turow puts it: "[E]ven the most hard-bitten Chicagoans have to see very good times on the horizon."
This blogger just may be heading home to Chicago soon… Because the time seems right. Finally.
Read Scott Turow's piece here: http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-10-31/chicago-power/1/
VIDEO: Nader & Obama Girl Team Up To Say: Let the People Decide
That Obama Girl... she sure does get around. But I like the message of this video: We the People say Let the People Decide. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4nIpvhlgpo
And here's a link to a very retro B&W Obama ad attacking McCain's robo-calls. An urbane President with a witty sense of humor... so refreshing, really, and just what our country needs in times like these. It's called, Robots Attack!, and you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg56KbtmARc
But if you really want to laugh out loud (at least I did), check out this video from David Alan Grier. His message? Play It Cool, my Brother, Play It Cool...
http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml%3FvideoId=189876%26title=be%2Dcool%2C%2Dblack%2Dpeople
And here's a link to a very retro B&W Obama ad attacking McCain's robo-calls. An urbane President with a witty sense of humor... so refreshing, really, and just what our country needs in times like these. It's called, Robots Attack!, and you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mg56KbtmARc
But if you really want to laugh out loud (at least I did), check out this video from David Alan Grier. His message? Play It Cool, my Brother, Play It Cool...
http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml%3FvideoId=189876%26title=be%2Dcool%2C%2Dblack%2Dpeople
29 October 2008
The "Solid as Barack" Variety (Half) Hour
As I'm sure you've heard, Barack will be taking to the airwaves for a half-hour tonight. The contents of that production have been a well-guarded secret. SNL recently did their brilliant take, though, on just what that half-hour might include... Did SNL get it right?
Here's a link to the video clip, for all those who missed it. Watch it, then compare it with the reality...
http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nbc.com/Saturday%5FNight%5FLive/video/clips/obama%2Daddress/787181/
Here's a link to the video clip, for all those who missed it. Watch it, then compare it with the reality...
http://politicalhumor.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.nbc.com/Saturday%5FNight%5FLive/video/clips/obama%2Daddress/787181/
26 October 2008
My Favorite Pics of Obama
Here are some of my favorites, with the original captions, which are all copyrighted to Callie Shell / Aurora for Time. I found them here: http://digitaljournalist.org/issue0810/callie-bp.html
Waiting: Obama listens from a back stairwell as he is introduced in Muscatine, Iowa. It was his second or third speech of the day. Unlike many of the politicians I have photographed in the past, I find it is easy to get a photograph of Obama alone. He lets his staff do their jobs and not fuss over him. Nov. 7, 2007.
Two staffers had just passed this site and done two pull-ups. Not to be outdone, Obama did three with ease, dropped and walked out to make a speech. Missoula, Mont., 4/5/2008.
Waiting: Obama listens from a back stairwell as he is introduced in Muscatine, Iowa. It was his second or third speech of the day. Unlike many of the politicians I have photographed in the past, I find it is easy to get a photograph of Obama alone. He lets his staff do their jobs and not fuss over him. Nov. 7, 2007. 
Two staffers had just passed this site and done two pull-ups. Not to be outdone, Obama did three with ease, dropped and walked out to make a speech. Missoula, Mont., 4/5/2008. 
It was primary morning in New Hampshire. Barack and Michelle Obama had been campaigning separately all week. In the first few months of 2008 their private time seemed to consist of a few crossover moments in back hallways before rallies. This moment was rare and you could tell they just loved being able to sit together. Jan. 8, 2008.
There's one more that I really love of Obama standing alone on the football field in Denver at the Democratic National Convention. It's one of the last photos in the series (and you'll see photos of McCain too, since I don't want to be too partisan about things).
http://men.style.com/gq/features/campaign08
23 October 2008
Picture of the Day: or How We Crossed Party Lines... through Dance!
Look at this priceless gem I found on Flickr, on Photo Giddy's photostream. I believe the photo actually originated, though, from http://www.iphonesavior.com/.
Going Green to Make Some Green
The Dow may be plunging, even as I type this. And I ain't no Warren Buffet, so I have no words of wisdom or comfort to offer, not on the current state of the economy, anyway.
But here's what I can offer: the Future. And if I had even a dollar to invest, and the time to let that green grow, I'd be looking for the next Google... but in the Green Sector.
This isn't just hippie-dippie talk either, here. It's backed up by history. Innovation is Capitalism's best friend. Which is why it boggles my mind that America, which invented the automobile, is now getting its ass kicked by Japan and South Korea in the production of those fuel-efficient cars every fashionable hipster (and responsible consumer) seems to want. What's up with that, Detroit?
Times are too dire to be focusing on "going Green", you say? What with the mess on Wall Street, and wars raging on at least two major fronts...
Nuh-uh. It's all related. Let me be a boring history wonk for a moment, and tell you about a little speech President Jimmy Carter gave on July 15, 1979. In that speech, given just a few months before the 1980 Election (which of course he lost), Carter issued a warning re: our nation's Addiction to Oil. Carter worried that it would eventually destroy our country, economically, militarily, and morally. Reagan, that "Great Communicator", essentially said in response: "Pshaw! There's plenty of oil. And nothing for you, the American people, to worry about." Well. We all know just whom the American people chose to listen to. Because it was easier, and more convenient, to believe Reagan instead. And ignorance is (supposedly) bliss... as they say.
I'm tipping my electoral glove here (again), but I find Obama's talk of an Alternative-Energy based/fueled Economy, and the creation of a New Wave of Green Collar Workers, to be very interesting.... http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/the-obama-energy-speech-annotated/
Because there are important foreign policy implications as well. And I'm not just talking about the Middle East. We already owe hundreds of billions to China due, in large part, to our nation's addiction to oil (Why do you think our hands are kinda tied in Darfur? Even Bush Jr. would like to stop the genocide there, I'll bet). And China has already demonstrated that it is not above being ruthless--take the lead paint in our kids' toys, for example--in its pursuit of the almighty buck. But, stop borrowing money from China, and start showing them how to build a powerfully green and responsibly prosperous economy, and trust me... China will pay attention, and follow our lead.
And let's face it: Addictions can't last. And eventually, the "party" will, and has to, end. We all know that. How do you think we got into this mess in the first place? Just ask any shopoholic, or heroin addict, or the Gordon Gekkos of Wall Street: you'll forever be chasing that "first high", which requires more and more of your drug (or false "energy" source) of choice to attain, until eventually...
... you get dragged, kicking and screaming, into Rehab. By the people who truly care for you. And imho, that's where we are now: on the doorstep of the Rehab Clinic--the real kind, and not those spa-like, Look-at-me-Media-I'm-in-Rehab! facilities some celebrities seem so fond of.
Not very sexy, I know. But, I'll bet there are lots of people out there who will figure out a way to "pitch" this thing in a way that makes it sexy...
So remember kids: you gotta Go Green to make some "green". That's the new New-Wave...
But here's what I can offer: the Future. And if I had even a dollar to invest, and the time to let that green grow, I'd be looking for the next Google... but in the Green Sector.
This isn't just hippie-dippie talk either, here. It's backed up by history. Innovation is Capitalism's best friend. Which is why it boggles my mind that America, which invented the automobile, is now getting its ass kicked by Japan and South Korea in the production of those fuel-efficient cars every fashionable hipster (and responsible consumer) seems to want. What's up with that, Detroit?
Times are too dire to be focusing on "going Green", you say? What with the mess on Wall Street, and wars raging on at least two major fronts...
Nuh-uh. It's all related. Let me be a boring history wonk for a moment, and tell you about a little speech President Jimmy Carter gave on July 15, 1979. In that speech, given just a few months before the 1980 Election (which of course he lost), Carter issued a warning re: our nation's Addiction to Oil. Carter worried that it would eventually destroy our country, economically, militarily, and morally. Reagan, that "Great Communicator", essentially said in response: "Pshaw! There's plenty of oil. And nothing for you, the American people, to worry about." Well. We all know just whom the American people chose to listen to. Because it was easier, and more convenient, to believe Reagan instead. And ignorance is (supposedly) bliss... as they say.
I'm tipping my electoral glove here (again), but I find Obama's talk of an Alternative-Energy based/fueled Economy, and the creation of a New Wave of Green Collar Workers, to be very interesting.... http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/the-obama-energy-speech-annotated/
Because there are important foreign policy implications as well. And I'm not just talking about the Middle East. We already owe hundreds of billions to China due, in large part, to our nation's addiction to oil (Why do you think our hands are kinda tied in Darfur? Even Bush Jr. would like to stop the genocide there, I'll bet). And China has already demonstrated that it is not above being ruthless--take the lead paint in our kids' toys, for example--in its pursuit of the almighty buck. But, stop borrowing money from China, and start showing them how to build a powerfully green and responsibly prosperous economy, and trust me... China will pay attention, and follow our lead.
And let's face it: Addictions can't last. And eventually, the "party" will, and has to, end. We all know that. How do you think we got into this mess in the first place? Just ask any shopoholic, or heroin addict, or the Gordon Gekkos of Wall Street: you'll forever be chasing that "first high", which requires more and more of your drug (or false "energy" source) of choice to attain, until eventually...
... you get dragged, kicking and screaming, into Rehab. By the people who truly care for you. And imho, that's where we are now: on the doorstep of the Rehab Clinic--the real kind, and not those spa-like, Look-at-me-Media-I'm-in-Rehab! facilities some celebrities seem so fond of.
Not very sexy, I know. But, I'll bet there are lots of people out there who will figure out a way to "pitch" this thing in a way that makes it sexy...
So remember kids: you gotta Go Green to make some "green". That's the new New-Wave...
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