A month or so ago I created a Barack Obama blog, wrote a few posts and then deleted it. I unpublished the blog because (1) I didn't have time to work on two web sites and (2) I wasn't 100% sure I was going to back the skinny guy with a funny name. I still like John Edwards (a fellow Tar Heel) and John McCain is okay, but I wish he'd stop sliding to the right.
In the past few weeks, John Edwards has announced his Presidential campaign and Barack Obama has established an exploratory committee (it's like he's going spelunking or giving a colonoscopy), and since I'm a politics nerd, I thought I'd chat a bit about the Senator.
Yes, I know successful blogs should stick to one topic, but (1) I'm not trying to take over the intarweb and (2) I'd get bored posting about one thing day in and day out (I have a touch of the ADD).
...
As I noted two paragraphs ago, Barack Obama has announced he's forming a Presidential exploratory committee, and what's cool about his announcement is that he did it on his web site. And he used a new video service (Brightcove) to do it.
The Senator also has podcasts available for download on his Senate web site (I created links to a few of them at the bottom of this post) and does well when it comes to Internet fund raising - NPR discusses Obama's Internet presence here.
While I've been impressed by Obama and his eloquence (I so hope our next President can speak), The New York Times cautions against possible burnout and discusses how Obama may avoid it. The Senator is aware of his situation and articulates it well.
Also, if you've never seen Obama's 2004 DNC Keynote Address, I recommend watching it here - it is nothing short of amazing.
Downloads:
Barack Obama | Ethics Legislation [MP3]
Barack Obama | Call to Renewal Keynote [MP3]
Barack Obama | 2004 DNC Keynote [MP3]
In the past few weeks, John Edwards has announced his Presidential campaign and Barack Obama has established an exploratory committee (it's like he's going spelunking or giving a colonoscopy), and since I'm a politics nerd, I thought I'd chat a bit about the Senator.
Yes, I know successful blogs should stick to one topic, but (1) I'm not trying to take over the intarweb and (2) I'd get bored posting about one thing day in and day out (I have a touch of the ADD).
...
As I noted two paragraphs ago, Barack Obama has announced he's forming a Presidential exploratory committee, and what's cool about his announcement is that he did it on his web site. And he used a new video service (Brightcove) to do it.
The Senator also has podcasts available for download on his Senate web site (I created links to a few of them at the bottom of this post) and does well when it comes to Internet fund raising - NPR discusses Obama's Internet presence here.
While I've been impressed by Obama and his eloquence (I so hope our next President can speak), The New York Times cautions against possible burnout and discusses how Obama may avoid it. The Senator is aware of his situation and articulates it well.
“Novelty alone is not a criteria for success, nor should it be,” he said in an interview on Wednesday as he walked through the hallways of the Senate. “I do think there are moments in American history where there are opportunities to change the language of politics or set the country’s sights in a different place, and I think we’re in one of those moments.”Obama continues to speak with eloquence in his new book, The Audacity of Hope. I'm halfway through its 375 pages, and so far I'm impressed. The Senator doesn't get into policy detail, but he does give an overview of what life is like in Washington, and he warns against how power can corrode values and distort purpose:
At times our values collide because in the hands of men each one is subject to distortion and excess. Self-reliance and independence can transform into selfishness and license, ambition into greed and a frantic desire to succeed at any cost. More than once in our history we've seen patriotism slide into jingoism, xenophobia, the stifling of dissent; we've seen faith calcify into self-righteousness, closed mindedness, and cruelty toward others. Even the impulse toward charity can drift into a stifling paternalism, an unwillingness to acknowledge the ability of others to do for themselves.Whether or not Obama can outlast Hillary and Edwards is yet to be seen, but at least we have some good candidates from which to choose. The last election was depressing at best, so I'm looking forward to 2008 and its many possibilities.
When this happens...we depend on the strength of countervailing values to temper our judgment and hold such excesses in check.
Also, if you've never seen Obama's 2004 DNC Keynote Address, I recommend watching it here - it is nothing short of amazing.
Downloads:
Barack Obama | Ethics Legislation [MP3]
Barack Obama | Call to Renewal Keynote [MP3]
Barack Obama | 2004 DNC Keynote [MP3]
