This Week With President-Elect Barack Obama, November 16, 2008

Downtown Chicago

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If you did not read this, then do so. A definite, must read, all seven chapters.

How He Did It

Barack Obama had a gift, and he knew it. He had a way of making very smart, very accomplished people feel virtuous just by wanting to help Barack Obama. It had happened at Harvard Law School in the mid-1980s, at a time when the school was embroiled in fights over political correctness. He had won one of the truly plum prizes of overachievement at Harvard: he had been voted president of the law review, the first African-American ever so honored. Though his politics were conventionally (if not stridently) liberal, even the conservatives voted for him. Obama was a good listener, attentive and empathetic, and his powerful mind could turn disjointed screeds into reasoned consensus, but his appeal lay in something deeper. He was a black man who had moved beyond racial politics and narrowly defined interest groups. He seemed indifferent to, if not scornful of, the politics of identity and grievance. He showed no sense of entitlement or resentment. Obama had a way of transcending ambition, though he himself was ambitious as hell. In the grasping race for status and achievement—a competition that can seem like blood lust at a place like Harvard—Obama could make hypersuccessful meritocrats pause and remember a time (part mythical perhaps, but still beckoning) when service to others was more important than serving oneself.

Gregory Craig, a lawyer in Washington, D.C., was one of those Americans who wanted to believe again. Craig was not exactly an ordinary citizen—he had served and worked with the powerful all his life, as an aide to Sen. Edward Kennedy in the 1980s, as chief of policy planning at the State Department in the Clinton administration and as a lawyer hired to represent President Clinton at his impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate in 1999. He had seen the imperfections of the mighty, up close and personal, and by and large accepted human frailty. But, like a lot of Americans, he was tired of partisan bickering and yearned for someone who could rise above politics as usual. A 63-year-old baby boomer, Craig wanted to recapture the youthful idealism that he had experienced as a student at Harvard in the 1960s and later at Yale Law School, where his friends included Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham. In the late fall of 2003, he was invited to hear a young state senator from Illinois who was running for the U.S. Senate. Craig was immediately taken with Barack Obama. "He spoke 20 to 30 minutes, and I found him to be funny, smart and very knowledgeable for a state senator," Craig recalled. Craig was so visibly impressed that his host that evening, the longtime Washington mover and shaker Vernon Jordan, teased him, saying, "Greg has just fallen in love." continue

Dems get new crop of military voters
Michelle Obama expected to carve own niche as nation's first lady, daughters to keep her busy
Democrats set sights on Texas
Obama Reviews Bush’s Executive Orders
The West Wing Teaches Real Civics
Sorry, GOP: This Is Bigger Than 1992


President-Elect Obama's Radio Address (Audio/Video/Transcript)

Photo Blogs

President-Elect and First Lady To Be Welcomed at the White House by icebergslim; President-Elect Barack Obama and Vice-President Elect Joe Biden, Pictures, November 4, 2008 by icebergslim; Celebrities on Election Night; From the Obama Blog: Michelle and Barack on Ohio; --- A PERFECT STORM --- --(w/ GOTV Eye Candy)-- (UPDATE) – Morning Lines by Al Rodgers; The Whole World is Watching !!! (w/ World Wide Eye Candy) by Al Rodgers; Chicago Tribune: Grant Park; Behind the Scenes Photos of Obama on Election Night by Magnifico; Chicago Treasures: Grant Park, Election Night w/Photos and Video by sheddhead; Mega-diary for today's gay marriage rallies by jamesia

No Blackberry for the President, but is it possible?
Obama’s Letter to Illinois Newspapers
Obama Names Valerie Jarrett Senior White House Advisor
What is Michelle gonna wear?
For friends who see Michelle Obama often, things are going to change
Michelle visits D.C. Schools
Designers: First lady's ball gown should be bold


Barack and Illinois Veterans Affairs Director, Tammy Duckworth on Veteran's Day

Audio/Video

Where Does The Republican Party Go From Here?; Hillary Clinton As Secretary Of State?; Obamas' Place In History, Fashion Sense Hot Topics; Job Seekers In Administration Face Tough Questions; Meet the Press, November 16, 2008; Obama's Inner Circle; I hear America singing! by noweasels; McCain Campaigned Hard But Failed In Pa., Ohio; Top 60 Memorable Campaign Ads; President-Elect Barack Obama's Election Night Acceptance Speech, November 4, 2008

Michelle Obama speaks from her heart -- and broad experience
A labor-union problem looms for Obama
Former Senator Obama Adds 3 to Staff
Durbin has private lunch with Obama
Barack Obama Watch
Obama's grandmother 'Toot' eulogized
Obama gives Ebony first dibs


London's Evening Standard

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icebergslim's last word: yes we did and i am exhausted

Ok, I am back on line, somewhat.

There are many of us out there who have been on the O-Train since 2007, and many more since 2006.

I have been posting "This Week With Barack Obama" since July, 2007. Hey, that is a LONG TIME!!! So, I think it is JUST DUE that I took some time off to savior a very sweet win.

Many of us have been hopping around from different states since the Iowa Caucuses, working the peeps, and getting our peeps out to the polls, caucuses, performing the campaign's what knots.

Many of us have been orchestrating, participating in voter's registration drives since 2007. And it was these drives that made the difference in the primaries and November 4th.

So, if I am a bit lazy, lackadaisical, sipping my 'tini's while pouring through my Obama memory lane, be patient with me.

It is not every day that a masterful, sincere, real politician is elected through the most adversarial odds and comes out the winner.

All of us need to follow the lead of the Obamas and just chill, savor and be jubilant.

In the end, this moment is temporary because Barack's got a lot of shit on his plate and the rubes are lining up to jockey their position, to get a piece of the pie, just want a meet.

And us? We are watching because we expect big, bold things from the Obama Administration, this country needs just that right now.

Barack, 'ya heard????

Hope so.

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Slide show.....



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Cross-posted @ Daily Kos

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Obama Evening Wrap Up. Resignation from the Senate.

Vice-President Cheney and Lynn Cheney, with Vice-President Elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden at the VP Residence, US Naval Observatory



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Obama Resigns

"It has been one of the highest honors and privileges of my life to have served the people of Illinois in the United States Senate. In a state that represents the crossroads of a nation, I have met so many men and women who’ve taken different journeys, but hold common hopes for their children’s future. It is these Illinois families and their stories that will stay with me as I leave the United States Senate and begin the hard task of fulfilling the simple hopes and common dreams of all Americans as our nation’s next President," said President-elect Barack Obama.

Source

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Pat Buchanan, Just Amazing

I watched Hardball tonight with utter amazement.

The Republican Governor's Convention is going on in Florida. Many governors are frank and admitting what the Republican Party needs to do to remain relevant.

Governor Tim Pawlenty, (R-MN) was quite frank.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty -- passed over by Sen. John McCain for the No. 2 spot on the presidential ticket and one of nine GOP governors who preside over states won by Barack Obama -- offered a summary of his party's predicament at the governors' opening lunch.

"We cannot be a majority governing party when we essentially cannot compete in the Northeast, we are losing our ability to compete in Great Lakes states, we cannot compete on the West Coast, we are increasingly in danger of competing in the mid-Atlantic states, and the Democrats are now winning some of the Western states," Pawlenty said. "That is not a formula for being a majority governing party in this nation."

As if that weren't enough, he ticked off a few more challenges.

"Similarly we cannot compete, and prevail, as a majority governing party if we have a significant deficit, as we do, with women, where we have a large deficit with Hispanics, where we have a large deficit with African American voters, where we have a large deficit with people of modest incomes and modest financial circumstances. Those are not factors that make up a formula for success going forward."

All the above is true.

The hard rhetoric against persons of color and women has greatly minimized the Republican Party, we saw the effect last Tuesday on Election Day. The country is changing, and the change is in persons of color and women. The Republican Party does not represent them, is not trying to persuade them, but continue on the track of snide, mean-sprited attacks and it all was a backlash on Election Day.

Then we have two Republicans on Chris Matthews show, Hardball, one white and one black and the difference is stark.

Pat Buchanan is living in the 50s/60s and it was apparent in his approach. He is one of the reasons why the Republican Party is what it is now, "the good old white boy, southern regional party." It is, what it is.



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Memory Lane: Obamas in Butte, Montana for the Fourth of July

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Breaking News: Hillary Clinton Considered for Secretary of State

Keith Olbermann is breaking this story now.

Clinton traveled to Chicago today.

Two Obama advisers have told NBC News that Hillary Clinton is under consideration to be secretary of state. Would she be interested? Those who know Clinton say possibly. But her office says that any decisions about the transition are up to the president-elect and his team.

Clinton was seen taking a flight to Chicago today, but an adviser says it was on personal business. It is unknown whether she had any meeting or conversation with Obama while there.

Other Democrats known to want the State Department post are Sen. John Kerry and Gov. Bill Richardson. A possible compromise choice would be former Sen. Tom Daschle.

Remember, the Doris Kearns Goodwin book, "Team of Rivals". This would be a very bold choice and I see her in this position. Or is this leak a smoke screen for something else?

So, what is next for Richardson and Kerry, who are jocking for this job?



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And the Minnesota, Alaska and Georgia Senate Races?

For Alaska.

Looks like the votes are still being counted and Mark Begich is ahead. This seat looks more Democratic by the hour.

For Minnesota.

A hand recount will start next week. Florida, redux?

And Georgia.

Runoff commences on December 2, 2008. Stay tuned.

and................

Washington hopes to cash in on Obama-mania

Looks like ONE MILLION or more for Obama inauguration

Obama Team Sheds Light on New Administration

The Obamas first interview, post election, granted to 60 Minutes

What kind of First Lady will Michelle Obama Be?

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